This invention pertains to compounds which specifically inhibit the adenosine A1 receptor and the use of these compounds to treat a disease associated with A1 adenosine receptors in a subject....http://www.google.com/patents/US6680322?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6680322 - Compounds specific to adenosine A1 receptors and uses thereof

15. A method for treating a disease associated with an A1 adenosine receptor in a subject in need of such treatment, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of claim 1, 7, 9, 11 or 13 so as to thereby treat the disease associated with the A1 adenosine receptor in the subject, wherein the disease is antidiuresis, bradycardia, bronchitis, bronchoconstriction, cardiac arrythmias, cardiac hypoxia, hypertension, inflammation, negative cardiac inotropy and dromotropy, renal failure, sedation or is associated with transmitter release, respiratory epithelia, contraction of smooth muscle underlying respiratory epithelia, vasoconstriction or mast cell degranulation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the subject is a mammal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the mammal is a human.

18. A prodrug of the compound of claim 1, 7, 9, 11 or 13, wherein the prodrug is metabolized in vivo by a human subject to an active drug which selectively inhibits the A1 adenosine receptor wherein the prodrug is

an ester of an alcohol or carboxylic acid group, if such a group is present in the compound;

an acetal or ketal of an alcohol group, if such a group is present in the compound;

an N-Mannich base or an imine of an amine group, if such a group is present in the compound; or

a Schiff base, oxime, acetal, enol ester, oxazolidine, or thiazolidine of a carbonyl group, if such a group is present in the compound.

19. The prodrug of claim 18, wherein the prodrug is water-soluble.

20. The prodrug of claim 18, wherein said prodrug is metabolized in vivo by esterase catalyzed hydrolysis.

21. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the prodrug of claim 18 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

22. A method for inhibiting the activity of an A1 adenosine receptor in a cell, which comprises contacting the cell with a compound of claim 1, 7, 9, 11 or 13 so as to inhibit the activity of the A1 adenosine receptor.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the cell is human cell.

24. A method for treating a respiratory disorder in a subject in need of such treatment, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of claim 1, 7, 9, 11 or 13 so as to thereby treat the respiratory disorder in the subject.

28. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of claim 1, 7, 9, 11 or 13, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and at least one of either a steroid, a β2 agonist, a glucocorticoid, a leukotriene antagonist, or an anticolinergic agonist.

29. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of claim 1, 7, 9, 11 or 13 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Throughout this application, various publications are referenced by author and date. Full citations for these publications may be found throughout the specification. The disclosures of these publications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application in order to more fully describe the state of the art as known to those skilled therein as of the date of the invention described and claimed herein.

Adenosine receptors belong to the superfamily of purine receptors which are currently subdivided into P1 (adenosine) and P2 (ATP, ADP, and other nucleotides) receptors. Four receptor subtypes for the nucleoside adenosine have been cloned so far from various species including humans. Two receptor subtypes (A1 and A2a) exhibit affinity for adenosine in the nanomolar range while two other known subtypes A2b and A3 are low-affinity receptors, with affinity for adenosine in the low-micromolar range. A1 and A3 adenosine receptor activation can lead to an inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity, while A2a and A2b activation causes a stimulation of adenylate cyclase.

A few A1 antagonists have been developed for the treatment of cognitive disease, renal failure, and cardiac arrhythmias. It has been suggested that A2a antagonists may be beneficial for patients suffering from Morbus Parkinson (Parkinson's disease). Particularly in view of the potential for local delivery, adenosine receptor antagonists may be valuable for treatment of allergic inflammation and asthma. Available information (for example, Nyce & Metzger “DNA antisense Therapy for Asthma in an Animal Model” Nature (1997) 385: 721-5)indicates that in this pathophysiologic context, A1 antagonists may block contraction of smooth muscle underlying respiratory epithelia, while A2b or A3 receptor antagonists may block mast cell degranulation, mitigating the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators. A2b receptors have been discovered throughout the gastrointestinal tract, especially in the colon and the intestinal epithelia. It has been suggested that A2b receptors mediate cAMP response (Strohmeier et al., J. Bio. Chem. (1995) 270:2387-94).

Compounds which regulate the uptake of adenosine uptake have previously been suggested as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of retinal and optic nerve head damage. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,780,450 to Shade, Shade discusses the use of adenosine uptake inhibitors for treating eye disorders. Shade does not disclose the use of specific A3 receptor inhibitors. The entire contents of U.S. Pat. No. 5,780,450 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Additional adenosine receptor antagonists are needed as pharmacological tools and are of considerable interest as drugs for the above-referenced disease states and/or conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on compounds which selectively bind to adenosine A1 receptor, thereby treating a disease associated with A1 adenosine receptor in a subject by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of such compounds. The disease to be treated are associated with cognitive disease, renal failure, cardiac arrhythmias, respiratory epithelia, transmitter release, sedation, vasoconstriction, bradycardia, negative cardiac inotropy and dromotropy, branchoconstriction, neutropil chemotaxis, reflux condition, or ulcerative condition.

The present invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery that certain N-6 substituted 7-deazapurines, described infra, can be used to treat a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state. Examples of such states include those in which the activity of the adenosine receptors is increased, e.g., bronchitis, gastrointestinal disorders, or asthma. These states can be characterized in that adenosine receptor activation can lead to the inhibition or stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity. Compositions and methods of the invention include enantiomerically or diastereomerically pure N-6 substituted 7-deazapurines. Preferred N-6 substituted 7-deazapurines include those which have an acetamide, carboxamide, substituted cyclohexyl, e.g., cyclohexanol, or a urea moiety attached to the N-6 nitrogen through an alkylene chain.

The present invention pertains to methods for modulating an adenosine receptor(s) in a mammal by administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine, such that modulation of the adenosine receptor's activity occurs. Suitable adenosine receptors include the families of A1, A2, or A3. In a preferred embodiment, the N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine is a adenosine receptor antagonist.

The invention further pertains to methods for treating N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine disorders, e.g., asthma, bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and eye disorders, in a mammal by administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine, such that treatment of the disorder in the mammal occurs. Suitable N-6 substituted 7 deazapurines include those illustrated by the general formula I:

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. R1 and R2 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl moiety or together form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring. R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl moiety. R4 is a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl moiety. R5 and R6 are each independently a halogen atom, e.g., chlorine, fluorine, or bromine, a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl moiety, or R5 is carboxyl, esters of carboxyl, or carboxamides, or R4 and R5 or R5 and R6 together form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic or carbocyclic ring.

In certain embodiments, R1 and R2 can each independently be a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl or heteroarylalkyl moieties. In other embodiments, R3 is a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl moiety. In still other embodiments, R4, R5 and R6 can each be independently a heteroaryl moieties. In a preferred embodiment, R1 is a hydrogen atom, R2 is a cyclohexanol, e.g. trans-cyclohexanol, R3 is phenyl, R4 is a hydrogen atom, R5 is a methyl group and R6 is a methyl group. In still another embodiment, R1 is a hydrogen atom, R2 is

R3 is phenyl, R4 is a hydrogen atom and R5 and R6 are methyl groups.

The invention further pertains to pharmaceutical compositions for treating a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state in a mammal, e.g., asthma, bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and eye disorders. The pharmaceutical composition includes a therapeutically effective amount of a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The present invention also pertains to packaged pharmaceutical compositions for treating a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state in a mammal. The packaged pharmaceutical composition includes a container holding a therapeutically effective amount of at least one N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine and instructions for using the N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine for treating a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state in a mammal.

The invention further pertains to compounds of formula I wherein

R1 is hydrogen;

R2 is substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or R1 and R2 together form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring;

R3 is unsubstituted or substituted aryl;

R4 is hydrogen; and

R5 and R6 are each independently hydrogen or alkyl, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The deazapurines of this embodiment may advantageously be selective A3 receptor antagonists. These compounds may be useful for numerous therapeutic uses such as, for example, the treatment of asthma, kidney failure associated with heart failure, and glaucoma. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the deazapurine is a water soluble prodrug that is capable of being metabolized in vivo to an active drug by, for example, esterase catalyzed hydrolysis.

In yet another embodiment, the invention features a method for inhibiting the activity of an adenosine receptor (e.g., A3) in a cell, by contacting the cell with N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine (e.g., preferably, an adenosine receptor antagonist).

In another aspect, the invention features a method for treating damage to the eye of an animal(e.g., a human) by administering to the animal an effective amount of an N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine of formula I. Preferably, the N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine is an antagonist of A3 adenosine receptors in cells of the animal. The damage is to the retina or the optic nerve head and may be acute or chronic. The damage may be the result of, for example, glaucoma, edema, ischemia, hypoxia or trauma.

The invention also features a pharmaceutical composition comprising a N-6 substituted compound of formula I. Preferably, the pharmaceutical preparation is an ophthalmic formulation (e.g., an periocular, retrobulbar or intraocular injection formulation, a systemic formulation, or a surgical irrigating solution).

In yet another embodiment, the invention features a compound having the formula II:

wherein X is N or CR6; R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, or substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, aminoalkyl, alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl, or together form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring, provided that both R1 and R2 are both not hydrogen; R3 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, arylalkyl, or aryl; R4 is hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl; L is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or R4 and L together form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic or carbocyclic ring; R6 is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or halogen; Q is CH2, O, S, or NR7, wherein R7 is hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl; and W is unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, biaryl, heteroaryl, substituted carbonyl, substituted thiocarbonyl, or substituted sulfonyl; provided that if R3 is pyrrolidino, then R4 is not methyl. The invention also pertains to pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs of the compounds of the invention.

In an advantageous embodiment, X is CR6 and Q is CH2, O, S, or NH in formula II, wherein R6 is as defined above.

In another embodiment of formula II, X is N. The invention further pertains to a method for inhibiting the activity of an adenosine receptor (e.g., an A2a adenosine receptor) in a cell by contacting the cell with a compound of the invention. Preferably, the compound is an antagonist of the receptor.

The invention also pertains to a method for treating a gastrointestinal disorder (e.g., diarrhea) or a respiratory disorder (e.g., allergic rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in an animal by administering to an animal an effective amount of a compound of formula II (e.g., an antagonist of A2b). Preferably, the animal is a human.

wherein R2 and R2′ are independently H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, halogen, methoxy, methyl amino, or methyl thio; wherein R3 is H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, amino, substituted aryl, wherein said substituted alkyl is —C(R7)(R6)XR5, wherein X is O, S, or NR6, wherein R7 and R8 are each independently H or alkyl, wherein R5 and R6 are each independently alkyl or cycloalkyl, or R5, R6 and the nitrogen together form a substituted or unsubstituted ring of between 4 and 7 members;

wherein R4 is H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or a prodrug derivative, or a biologically active metabolite; with the proviso that when R1 is acetylamino ethyl, Ar is not 4-pyridyl.

This invention also pertains to a compound having the structure:

wherein R1 is aryl, substituted aryl, or heteroaryl;

wherein R2 is H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, or cycloalkyl; wherein R3 is H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, amino, substituted aryl, wherein said substituted alkyl is —C(R6)(R7)NR4R5, wherein R6 and R7 are each H or alkyl, wherein R4 and R5 are each alkyl or cycloalkyl, or R4 R5 and the nitrogen together form a ring system of between 4 and 7 members.

This invention also features a method for inhibiting the activity of an A1 adenosine receptor in a cell, which comprises contacting said cell with the above-mentioned compounds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The features and other details of the invention will now be more particularly described and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principle features of this invention can be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

The present invention pertains to methods for treating a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state in a mammal. The methods include administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine, described infra, to the mammal, such that treatment of the N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state in the mammal occurs.

The language “N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state” is intended to include a disease state or condition characterized by its responsiveness to treatment with a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine of the invention as described infra, e.g., the treatment includes a significant diminishment of at least one symptom or effect of the state achieved with a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine of the invention. Typically such states are associated with an increase of adendsine within a host such that the host often experiences physiological symptoms which include, but are not limited to, release of toxins, inflammation, coma, water retention, weight gain or weight loss, pancreatitis, emphysema, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, multiple organ failure, infant and adult respiratory distress syndrome, allergic rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, eye disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, skin tumor promotion, immunodeficiency and asthma. (See for example, C. E. Muller and B. Stein “Adenosine Receptor Antagonists: Structures and Potential Therapeutic Applications,” Current Pharmaceutical Design, 2:501 (1996) and C. E. Muller “A1-Adenosine Receptor Antagonists,” Exp. Opin. Ther. Patents 7(5):419 (1997) and E. Feoktistove, R. Polosa, S. T. Holgate and I. Biaggioni “Adenosine A2b receptors: a novel therapeutic target in asthma?” TiPS 19; 148 (1998)). The effects often associated with such symptoms include, but are not limited to, fever, shortness of breath, nausea, diarrhea, weakness, headache, and even death. In one embodiment, a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state includes those disease states which are mediated by stimulation of adenosine receptors, e.g., A1, A2a, A2b, A3, etc., such that calcium concentrations in cells and/or activation of PLC (phospholipase C) is modulated. In a preferred embodiment, a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state is associated with adenosine receptor(s), e.g., the N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine acts as an antagonist. Examples of suitable responsive states which can be treated by the compounds of the invention, e.g., adenosine receptor subtypes which mediate biological effects, include central nervous system (CNS) effects, cardiovascular effects, renal effects, respiratory effects, immunological effects, gastrointestinal effects and metabolic effects. The relative amount of adenosine in a subject can be associated with the effects listed below; that is increased levels of adenosine can trigger an effect, e.g., an undesired physiological response, e.g., an asthmatic attack.

Eye disorders include retinal and optic nerve head injury and trauma related disorders (A3). In a preferred embodiment, the eye disorder is glaucoma.

Other therapeutic applications of the compounds of the invention include treatment of obesity (lipolytic properties), hypertension, treatment of depression, sedative, anxiolytic, as antileptics and as laxatives, e.g., effecting motility without causing diarrhea.

The language “treatment of a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state” or “treating a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state” is intended to include changes in a disease state or condition, as described above, such that physiological symptoms in a mammal can be significantly diminished or minimized. The language also includes control, prevention or inhibition of physiological symptoms or effects associated with an aberrant amount of adenosine. In one preferred embodiment, the control of the disease state or condition is such that the disease state or condition is eradicated. In another preferred embodiment, the control is selective such that aberrant levels of adenosine receptor activity are controlled while other physiologic systems and parameters are unaffected.

The term “N substituted 7-deazapurine” is art recognized and is intended to include those compounds having the formula I:

“N-substituted 7-deazapurine” includes pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and, in one embodiment, also includes certain N-6 substituted purines described herein.

In certain embodiments, the N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine is not N-6 benzyl or N-6 phenylethyl substituted. In other embodiments, R4 is not benzyl or phenylethyl substituted. In preferred embodiments, R1 and R2 are both not hydrogen atoms. In still other preferred embodiments, R3 is not a hydrogen atom.

The language “therapeutically effective amount” of an N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine, described infra, is that amount of a therapeutic compound necessary or sufficient to perform its intended function within a mammal, e.g., treat a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state, or a disease state in a mammal. An effective amount of the therapeutic compound can vary according to factors such as the amount of the causative agent already present in the mammal, the age, sex, and weight of the mammal, and the ability of the therapeutic compounds of the present invention to affect a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state in the mammal. One of ordinary skill in the art would be able to study the aforementioned factors and make a determination regarding the effective amount of the therapeutic compound without undue experimentation. An in vitro or in vivo assay also can be used to determine an “effective amount” of the therapeutic compounds described infra. The ordinarily skilled artisan would select an appropriate amount of the therapeutic compound for use in the aforementioned assay or as a therapeutic treatment.

A therapeutically effective amount preferably diminishes at least one symptom or effect associated with the N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state or condition being treated by at least about 20%, (more preferably by at least about 40%, even more preferably by at least about 60%, and still more preferably by at least about 80%) relative to untreated subjects. Assays can be designed by one skilled in the art to measure the diminishment of such symptoms and/or effects. Any art recognized assay capable of measuring such parameters are intended to be included as part of this invention. For example, if asthma is the state being treated, then the volume of air expended from the lungs of a subject can be measured before and after treatment for measurement of increase in the volume using an art recognized technique. Likewise, if inflammation is the state being treated, then the area which is inflamed can be measured before and after treatment for measurement of diminishment in the area inflamed using an art recognized technique.

The term “cell” includes both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

The term “animal” includes any organism with adenosine receptors or any organism susceptible to a N-6-substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state. Examples of animals include yeast, mammals, reptiles, and birds. It also includes transgenic animals.

The term “mammal” is art recognized and is intended to include an animal, more preferably a warm-blooded animal, most preferably cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, dogs, cats, rats, mice, and humans. Mammals susceptible to a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state, inflammation, emphysema, asthma, central nervous system conditions, or acute respiratory distress syndrome, for example, are included as part of this invention.

In another aspect, the present invention pertains to methods for modulating an adenosine receptor(s) in a mammal by administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine, such that modulation of the adenosine receptor in the mammal occurs. Suitable adenosine receptors include the families of A1, A2, or A3. In a preferred embodiment, the N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine is an adenosine receptor antagonist.

The language “modulating an adenosine receptor” is intended to include those instances where a compound interacts with an adenosine receptor(s), causing increased, decreased or abnormal physiological activity associated with an adenosine receptor or subsequent cascade effects resulting from the modulation of the adenosine receptor. Physiological activities associated with adenosine receptors include induction of sedation, vasodilation, suppression of cardiac rate and contractility, inhibition of platelet aggregbility, stimulation of gluconeogenesis, inhibition of lipolysis, opening of potassium channels, reducing flux of calcium channels, etc.

The terms “modulate”, “modulating” and “modulation” are intended to include preventing, eradicating, or inhibiting the resulting increase of undesired physiological activity associated with abnormal stimulation of an adenosine receptor, e.g., in the context of the therapeutic methods of the invention. In another embodiment, the term modulate includes antagonistic effects, e.g., diminishment of the activity or production of mediators of allergy and allergic inflammation which results from the overstimulation of adenosine receptor(s). For example, the therapeutic deazapurines of the invention can interact with an adenosine receptor to inhibit, for example, adenylate cyclase activity.

The language “condition characterized by aberrant adenosine receptor activity” is intended to include those diseases, disorders or conditions which are associated with aberrant stimulation of an adenosine receptor, in that the stimulation of the receptor causes a biochemical and or physiological chain of events that is directly or indirectly associated with the disease, disorder or condition. This stimulation of an adenosine receptor does not have to be the sole causative agent of the disease, disorder or condition but merely be responsible for causing some of the symptoms typically associated with the disease, disorder, or condition being treated. The aberrant stimulation of the receptor can be the sole factor or at least one other agent can be involved in the state being treated. Examples of conditions include those disease states listed supra, including inflammation, gastrointestinal disorders and those symptoms manifested by the presence of increased adenosine receptor activity. Preferred examples include those symptoms associated with asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, bronchitis, gastrointestinal disorders and glaucoma.

The language “treating or treatment of a condition characterized by aberrant adenosine receptor activity” is intended to include the alleviation of or diminishment of at least one symptom typically associated with the condition. The treatment also includes alleviation or diminishment of more than one symptom. Preferably, the treatment cures, e.g., substantially eliminates, the symptoms associated with the condition.

The present invention pertains to compounds N-6 substituted 7-deazapurines, having the formula I:

wherein R1 and R2 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl moiety or together form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring; R3 is a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl moiety; R4 is a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl moiety. R5 and R6 are each independently a halogen atom, e.g., chlorine, fluorine, or bromine, a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl moiety or R4 and R5 or R5 and R6 together form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic or carbocyclic ring. Also included, are pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the N-6 substituted 7-deazapurines.

In certain embodiments, R1 and R2 can each independently be a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl or heteroarylalkyl moieties. In other embodiments, R3 is a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl moiety. In still other embodiments, R4, R5 and R6 can each be independently a heteroaryl moiety.

In one embodiment, R1 is a hydrogen atom, R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted cyclohexane, cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl or cyclopropane moiety, R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl moiety, R4 is a hydrogen atom and R5 and R6 are both methyl groups.

In another embodiment, R2 is a cyclohexanol, a cyclohexanediol, a cyclohexylsulfonamide, a cyclohexanamide, a cyclohexylester, a cyclohexene, a cyclopentanol or a cyclopentanediol and R3 is a phenyl moiety.

In still another embodiment, R1 is a hydrogen atom, R2 is a cyclohexanol, R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, pyridine, furan, cyclopentane, or thiophene moiety, R4 is a hydrogen atom, a substituted alkyl, aryl or arylalkyl moiety, and R5 and R6 are each independently a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl moiety.

In yet another embodiment, R1 is a hydrogen atom, R2 is substituted or unsubstituted alkylamine, arylamine, or alkylarylamine, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylamide, arylamide or alkylarylamide, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylsulfonamide, arylsulfonamide or alkylarylsulfonamide, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylurea, arylurea or alkylarylurea, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylcarbamate, arylcarbamate or alkylarylcarbamate, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylcarboxylic acid, arylcarboxylic acid or alkylarylcarboxylic acid, R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl moiety, R4 is a hydrogen atom and R5 and R6 are methyl groups.

In still another embodiment, R2 is guanidine, a modified guanidine, cyanoguanidine, a thiourea, a thioamide or an amidine.

In one embodiment, R2 can be

wherein R2a—R2c are each independently a hydrogen atom or a saturated or unsaturated alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl moiety and R2d is a hydrogen atom or a saturated or unsaturated alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl moiety, NR2eR2f, or OR2g, wherein R2e—R2g are each independently a hydrogen atom or a saturated or unsaturated alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl moieties. Alternatively, R2a and R2b together can form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring having a ring size between about 3 and 6 members, e.g., cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl groups.

In one aspect of the invention, both R5 and R6 are not methyl groups, preferably, one of R5 and R6 is an alkyl group, e.g., a methyl group, and the other is a hydrogen atom.

In another aspect of the invention, when R4 is 1-phenylethyl and R1 is a hydrogen atom, then R3 is not phenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 3,4-dichlorophenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl or 4-methoxyphenyl or when R4 and R1 are 1-phenylethyl, then R3 is not a hydrogen atom or when R4 is a hydrogen atom and R3 is a phenyl, then R1 is not phenylethyl.

In another aspect of the invention, when R5 and R6 together form a carbocyclic ring, e.g.,

or pyrimido[4,5-6]indole, then R3 is not phenyl when R4 is 1-(4-methylphenyl)ethyl, phenylisopropyl, phenyl or 1-phenylethyl or when R3 is not a hydrogen atom when R4 is 1-phenylethyl. The carbocyclic ring formed by R5 and R6 can be either aromatic or aliphatic and can have between 4 and 12 carbon atoms, e.g., naphthyl, phenylcyclohexyl, etc., preferably between 5 and 7 carbon atoms, e.g., cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl. Alternatively, R5 and R6 together can form a heterocyclic ring, such as those disclosed below. Typical heterocyclic rings include between 4 and 12 carbon atoms, preferably between 5 and 7 carbon atoms, and can be either aromatic or aliphatic. The heterocyclic ring can be further substituted, including substitution of one or more carbon atoms of the ring structure with one or more heteroatoms.

In still another aspect of the invention, R1 and R2 form a heterocyclic ring. Representative examples include, but are not limited to, those heterocyclic rings listed below, such as morpholino, piperazine and the like, e.g., 4-hydroxypiperidines, 4-aminopiperidines. Where R1 and R2 together form a piperazino group,

wherein R7 can be a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl moiety.

In yet another aspect of the invention R4 and R5 together can form a heterocyclic ring, e.g.,

wherein the heterocyclic ring can be either aromatic or aliphatic and can form a ring having between 4 and 12 carbon atoms, e.g., naphthyl, phenylcyclohexyl, etc. and can be either aromatic or aliphatic, e.g., cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl. The heterocyclic ring can be further substituted, including substitution of carbon atoms of the ring structure with one or more heteroatoms. Alternatively, R4 and R5 together can form a heterocyclic ring, such as those disclosed below.

In certain embodiments, the N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine is not N-6 benzyl or N-6 phenylethyl substituted. In other embodiments, R4 is not benzyl or phenylethyl substituted. In preferred embodiments, R1 and R2 are both not hydrogen atoms. In still other preferred embodiments, R3 is not H.

The compounds of the invention may comprise water-soluble prodrugs which are described in WO 99/33815, International Application No. PCT/US98/04595, filed Mar. 9, 1998 and published Jul. 8, 1999. The entire content of WO 99/33815 is expressly incorporated herein by reference. The water-soluble prodrugs are metabolized in vivo to an active drug, e.g., by esterase catalyzed hydrolysis. Examples of potential prodrugs include deazapurines with, for example, R2 as cycloalkyl substituted with —OC(O)(Z)NH2, wherein Z is a side chain of a naturally or unnaturally occurring amino acid, or analog thereof, an α, β, γ, or ω amino acids, or a dipeptide. Preferred amino acid side chains include those of glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, α-methylalanine, aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid, azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, β-alanine, γ-aminobutyric acid, alanine-alanine, or glycine-alanine.

In a further embodiment, the invention features deazapurines of the formula (I), wherein R1 is hydrogen; R2 is substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or R1 and R2 together form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring; R3 is unsubstituted or substituted aryl; R4 is hydrogen; and R5 and R6 are each independently hydrogen or alkyl, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The deazapurines of this embodiment may potentially be selective A3 receptor antagonists.

In one embodiment, R2 is substituted (e.g., hydroxy substituted) or unsubstituted cycloalkyl. In an advantageous subembodiment, R1 and R4 are hydrogen, R3 is unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, and R5 and R6 are each alkyl. Preferably R2 is mono-hydroxycyclopentyl or mono-hydroxycyclohexyl. R2 also may be substituted with —NH—C(═O)E, wherein E is substituted or unsubstituted C1-C4 alkyl (e.g., alkylamine, e.g., ethylamine.).

R1 and R2 may also together form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring, which may be substituted with an amine or acetamido group.

In another aspect, R2 may be —A—NHC(═O)B, wherein A is unsubstituted C1-C4 alkyl (e.g., ethyl, propyl, butyl), and B is substituted or unsubstituted C1-C4 alkyl (e.g., methyl, aminoalkyl, e.g., aminomethyl or aminoethyl, alkylamino, e.g., methylamino, ethylamino), preferably when R1 and R4 are hydrogen, R3 is unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, and R5 and R6 are each alkyl. B may be substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, e.g., cyclopropyl or 1-amino-cyclopropyl.

In another embodiment, R3 may be substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, preferably when R5 and R6 are each alkyl. Preferably, R3 may have one or more substituents (e.g., o-, m- or p-chlorophenyl, o-, m- or p-fluorophenyl).

Preferably in one embodiment, R5 and R6 are each hydrogen. In another, R5 and R6 are each methyl.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the deazapurines of the invention are water-soluble prodrugs that can be metabolized in vivo to an active drug, e.g. by esterase catalyzed hydrolysis. Preferably the prodrug comprises an R2 group which is cycloalkyl substituted with —OC(O)(Z)NH2, wherein Z is a side chain of a naturally or unnaturally occurring amino acid, an analog thereof, an α, β, γ, or ω amino acid, or a dipeptide. Examples of preferred side chains include the side chains of glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, α-methylalanine, aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid, azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, β-alanine, γ-aminobutyric acid, alanine-alanine, or glycine-alanine.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, Z is a side chain of glycine, R2 is cyclohexyl, R3 is phenyl, and R5 and R6 are methyl.

In another embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(cis-3-hydroxycyclopentyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

In another embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(cis-3-(2-aminoacetoxy)cyclopentyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine trifluoroacetic acid salt.

In another embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(3-acetamido)piperidinyl-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

In another embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(2-N′-methylureapropyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

In another embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(2-acetamidobutyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

In another embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(2-N′-methylureabutyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

In another embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(2-aminocyclopropylacetamidoethyl)amino-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

In another embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(trans-4-hydroxycyclohexyl)amino-2-(3-chlorophenyl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

In another embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(trans-4-hydroxycyclohexyl)amino-2-(3-fluorophenyl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

In another embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(trans-4-hydroxycyclohexyl)amino-2-(4-pyridyl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

In yet another embodiment, the invention features a method for inhibiting the activity of an adenosine receptor (e.g., A1, A2A, A2B, or, preferably, A3) in a cell, by contacting the cell with N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine (e.g., preferably, an adenosine receptor antagonist).

In another aspect, the invention features a method for treating damage to the eye of an animal (e.g., a human) by administering to the animal an effective amount of an N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine. Preferably, the N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine is an antagonist of A3 adenosine receptors in cells of the animal. The damage is to the retina or the optic nerve head and may be acute or chronic. The damage may be the result of, for example, glaucoma, edema, ischemia, hypoxia or trauma.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention features a deazapurine having the formula II, supra, wherein X is N or CR6; R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, or substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, aminoalkyl, alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl, or together form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring, provided that both R1 and R2 are both not hydrogen; R3 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, arylalkyl, or aryl; R4 is hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl; L is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or R4 and L together form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic or carbocyclic ring; R6 is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or halogen; Q is CH2, O, S, or NR7, wherein R7 is hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl; and W is unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl, biaryl, heteroaryl, substituted carbonyl, substituted thiocarbonyl, or substituted sulfonyl, provided that if R3 is pyrrolidino, then R4 is not methyl.

In one embodiment, in compounds of formula II, X is CR6 and Q is CH2, O, S, or NH. In another embodiment, X is N.

In a further embodiment of compounds of formula II, W is substituted or unsubstituted aryl, 5- or 6-member heteroaryl, or biaryl. W may be substituted with one or more substituents. Examples of substituents include: halogen, hydroxy, alkoxy, amino, aminoalkyl, aminocarboxyamide, CN, CF3, CO2R8, CONHR8, CONR8R9, SOR8, SO2R8, and SO2NR8R9, wherein R8 and R9 are each independently hydrogen, or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or arylalkyl. Preferably, W may be substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, e.g., methylenedioxyphenyl. W also may be a substituted or unsubstituted 5-membered heteroaryl ring, e.g., pyrrole, pyrazole, oxazole, imidazole, triazole, tetrazole, furan, thiophene, thiazole, and oxadiazole. Preferably, W may be a 6-member heteroaryl ring, e.g., pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinal, and thiophenyl. In a preferred embodiment, W is 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, 2-pyrimidyl, 4-pyrimidyl, or 5-pyrimidyl.

In one advantageous embodiment of compounds of formula II, Q is NH and W is a 3-pyrazolo ring which is unsubstituted or N-substituted by substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or arylalkyl.

In another embodiment of compounds of formula II, Q is oxygen, and W is a 2-thiazolo ring which is unsubstituted or substituted by substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or arylalkyl.

In another embodiment of compounds of formula II, W is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl e.g., cyclopentyl, or arylalkyl. Examples of substituents include halogen, hydroxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or NHR10, wherein R10 is hydrogen, or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or arylalkyl.

In yet another embodiment, the invention features a deazapurine of formula II wherein W is —(CH2)b—C(═O)Y or —(CH2)a—C(═S)Y, and a is an integer from 0 to 3, Y is aryl, alkyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, alkynyl, NHR11R12, or, provided that Q is NH, OR13, wherein R11, R12 and R13 are each independently hydrogen, or unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or cycloalkyl. Preferably, Y is a 5- or 6-member heteroaryl ring.

Furthermore, W may be —(CH2)b—S(═O)jY, wherein j is 1 or 2, b is 0, 1, 2, or 3, Y is aryl, alkyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkynyl, heteroaryl, NHR14R15, provided that when b is 1, Q is CH2, and wherein R14, R15, and R16 are each independently hydrogen, or unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or cycloalkyl.

In another embodiment, R3 is selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinal, pyrrolyl, triazolyl, thioazolyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, furanyl, methylenedioxyphenyl, and thiophenyl. When R3 is phenyl, it may be substituted with, for example, hydroxyl, alkoxy (e.g., methoxy), alkyl (e.g., tolyl), and halogen, (e.g., o-, m-, or p-fluorophenyl or o-, m-, or p-chlorophenyl). Advantageously, R3 may be 2-, 3-, or 4-pyridyl or 2- or 3-pyrimidyl.

The invention also pertains to a deazapurine wherein R6 is hydrogen or C1-C3 alkyl. Preferably, R6 is hydrogen.

The invention also includes deazapurines wherein R1 is hydrogen, and R2 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkylamine, arylamine, or alkylarylamine, substituted or unsubstituted aminoalkyl, amino aryl, or aminoalkylaryl, substituted or unsubstituted alkylamide, arylamide or alkylarylamide, substituted or unsubstituted alkylsulfonamide, arylsulfonamide or alkylarylsulfonamide, substituted or unsubstituted alkylurea, arylurea or alkylarylurea, substituted or unsubstituted alkylcarbamate, arylcarbamate or alkylarylcarbamate, or substituted or unsubstituted alkylcarboxylic acid, arylcarboxylic acid or alkylarylcarboxylic acid.

wherein A is C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl, a chain of one to seven atoms, or a ring of three to seven atoms, optionally substituted with C1-C6 alkyl, halogens, hydroxyl, carboxyl, thiol, or amino groups; wherein B is methyl, N(Me)2, N(Et)2, NHMe, NHEt, (CH2)rNH3+, NH(CH2)rCH3, (CH2)rNH2, (CH2)rCHCH3NH2, (CH2)rNHMe, (CH2)rOH, CH2CN, (CH2)mCO2H, CHR18R19, or CHMeOH, wherein r is an integer from 0 to 2, m is 1 or 2, R18 is alkyl, R19 is NH3+ or CO2H or R18 and R19 together are:

wherein p is 2 or 3; and R17 is C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl, a chain of one to seven atoms, or a ring of three to seven atoms, optionally substituted with C1-C6 alkyl, halogens, hydroxyl, carboxyl, thiol, or amino groups.

Advantageously, A is unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl. B may be unsubstituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl.

In a preferred embodiment, R2 is of the formula —A—NHC(═O)B. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, A is —CH2CH2— and B is methyl.

The compounds of the invention may comprise water-soluble prodrugs which are metabolized in vivo to an active drug, e.g., by esterase catalyzed hydrolysis. Examples of potential prodrugs include deazapurines with, for example, R2 as cycloalkyl substituted with —OC(O)(Z)NH2, wherein Z is a side chain of a naturally or unnaturally occurring amino acid, or analog thereof, an α, β, γ, or ω amino acid, or a dipeptide. Preferred amino acid side chains include those of glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, α-methylalanine, aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid, azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, β-alanine, γ-aminobutyric acid, alanine-alanine, or glycine-alanine.

In another embodiment, R1 and R2 together are:

wherein n is 1 or 2, and wherein the ring may be optionally substituted with one or more hydroxyl, amino, thiol, carboxyl, halogen, CH2OH, CH2NHC(═O)alkyl, or CH2NHC(═O)NHalkyl groups. Preferably, n is 1 or 2 and said ring is substituted with —NHC(═O)alkyl.

In one advantageous embodiment, R1 is hydrogen, R1 is substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl, R3 is substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, R4 is hydrogen, L is hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl, Q is O, S or NR7, wherein R7 is hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl, and W is substituted or unsubstituted aryl. Preferably, R2 is —A—NHC(═O)B, wherein A and B are each independently unsubstituted or substituted C1-C4 alkyl. For example, A may be CH2CH2. B may be, for example, alkyl (e.g., methyl), or aminoalkyl (e.g., aminomethyl). Preferably, R3 is unsubstituted-phenyl and L is hydrogen. R6 may be methyl or preferably, hydrogen. Preferably, Q is O, S, or NR7 wherein R7 is hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl, e.g., methyl. W is unsubstituted or substituted phenyl (e.g., alkoxy, halogen substituted). Preferably, W is p-fluorophenyl p-chlorophenyl, or p-methoxyphenyl. W may also be heteroaryl, e.g., 2-pyridyl.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(2-acetylaminoethyl)amino-6-phenoxymethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(2-acetylaminoethyl)amino-6-(4-fluorophenoxy)methyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(2-acetylaminoethyl)amino-6-(4-chlorophenoxy)methyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(2-acetylaminoethyl)amino-6-(4-methoxyphenoxy)methyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(2-acetylaminoethyl)amino-6-(2-pyridyloxy)methyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(2-acetylaminoethyl)amino-6-(N-phenylamino)methyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(2-acetylaminoethyl)amino-6-(N-methyl-N-phenylamino)methyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the deazapurine is 4-(2-N′-methylureaethyl)amino-6-phenoxymethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine.

The invention further pertains to a method for inhibiting the activity of an adenosine receptor (e.g., an A2b adenosine receptor) in a cell by contacting the cell with a compound of the invention. Preferably, the compound is an antagonist of the receptor.

The invention also pertains to a method for treating a gastrointestinal disorder (e.g., diarrhea) in an animal by administering to an animal an effective amount of a compound of the invention (e.g., an antagonist of A2b). Preferably, the animal is a human.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing an N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The invention also pertains to a method for treating a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state in an animal, by administering to a mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a deazapurine of the invention, such that treatment of a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state in the animal occurs. Advantageously, the disease state may be a disorder mediated by adenosine. Examples of preferred disease states include: central nervous system disorders, cardiovascular disorders, renal disorders, inflammatory disorders, allergic disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, eye disorders, and respiratory disorders.

The term “alkyl” refers to the radical of saturated aliphatic groups, including straight-chain alkyl groups, branched-chain alkyl groups, cycloalkyl (alicyclic) groups, alkyl substituted cycloalkyl groups, and cycloalkyl substituted alkyl groups. The term alkyl further includes alkyl groups, which can further include oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur or phosphorous atoms replacing one or more carbons of the hydrocarbon backbone, e.g., oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur or phosphorous atoms. In preferred embodiments, a straight chain or branched chain alkyl has 30 or fewer carbon atoms in its backbone (e.g., C1-C30 for straight chain, C3-C30 for branched chain), and more preferably 20 or fewer. Likewise, preferred cycloalkyls have from 4-10 carbon atoms in their ring structure, and more preferably have 5, 6 or 7 carbons in the ring structure.

Moreover, the term alkyl as used throughout the specification and claims is intended to include both “unsubstituted alkyls” and “substituted alkyls”, the latter of which refers to alkyl moieties having substituents replacing a hydrogen on one or more carbons of the hydrocarbon backbone. Such substituents can include, for example, halogen, hydroxyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, arylcarbonyloxy, alkoxycarbonyloxy, aryloxycarbonyloxy, carboxylate, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylthiocarbonyl, alkoxyl, phosphate, phosphonato, phosphinato, cyano, amino (including alkyl amino, dialkylamino, arylamino, diarylamino, and alkylarylamino), acylamino (including alkylcarbonylamino, arylcarbonylamino, carbamoyl and ureido), amidino, imino, sulfhydryl, alkylthio, arylthio, thiocarboxylate, sulfates, sulfonato, sulfamoyl, sulfonamido, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, azido, heterocyclyl, alkylaryl, or an aromatic or heteroaromatic moiety. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the moieties substituted on the hydrocarbon chain can themselves be substituted, if appropriate. Cycloalkyls can be further substituted, e.g., with the substituents described above. An “alkylaryl” moiety is an alkyl substituted with an aryl (e.g., phenylmethyl (benzyl)). The term “alkyl” also includes unsaturated aliphatic groups analogous in length and possible substitution to the alkyls described above, but that contain at least one double or triple bond respectively.

The term “aryl” as used herein, refers to the radical of aryl groups, including 5- and 6-membered single-ring aromatic groups that may include from zero to four heteroatoms, for example, benzene, pyrrole, furan, thiophene, imidazole, benzoxazole, benzothiazole, triazole, tetrazole, pyrazole, pyridine, pyrazine, pyridazine and pyrimidine, and the like. Aryl groups also include polycyclic fused aromatic groups such as naphthyl, quinolyl, indolyl, and the like. Those aryl groups having heteroatoms in the ring structure may also be referred to as “aryl heterocycles”, “heteroaryls” or “heteroaromatics”. The aromatic ring can be substituted at one or more ring positions with such substituents as described above, as for example, halogen, hydroxyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyloxy, arylcarbonyloxy, alkoxycarbonyloxy, aryloxycarbonyloxy, carboxylate, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylthiocarbonyl, phosphate, phosphonato, phosphinato, cyano, amino (including alkyl amino, dialkylamino, arylamino, diarylamino, and alkylarylamino), acylamino (including alkylcarbonylamino, arylcarbonylamino, carbamoyl and ureido), amidino, imino, sulfhydryl, alkylthio, arylthio, thiocarboxylate, sulfates, sulfonato, sulfamoyl, sulfonamido, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, azido, heterocyclyl, alkylaryl, or an aromatic or heteroaromatic moiety Aryl groups can also be fused or bridged with alicyclic or heterocyclic rings which are not aromatic so as to form a polycycle (e.g., tetralin).

The terms “alkenyl” and “alkynyl” refer to unsaturated aliphatic groups analogous in length and possible substitution to the alkyls described above, but that contain at least one double or triple bond respectively. For example, the invention contemplates cyano and propargyl groups.

Unless the number of carbons is otherwise specified, “lower alkyl” as used herein means an alkyl group, as defined above, but having from one to ten carbons, more preferably from one to six carbon atoms in its backbone structure, even more preferably one to three carbon atoms in its backbone structure. Likewise, “lower alkenyl” and “lower alkynyl” have similar chain lengths.

The terms “alkoxyalkyl”, “polyaminoalkyl” and “thioalkoxyalkyl” refer to alkyl groups, as described above, which further include oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atoms replacing one or more carbons of the hydrocarbon backbone, e.g., oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atoms.

The terms “polycyclyl” or “polycyclic radical” refer to the radical of two or more cyclic rings (e.g., cycloalkyls, cycloalkenyls, cycloalkynyls, aryls and/or heterocyclyls) in which two or more carbons are common to two adjoining rings, e.g., the rings are “fused rings”. Rings that are joined through non-adjacent atoms are termed “bridged” rings. Each of the rings of the polycycle can be substituted with such substituents as described above, as for example, halogen, hydroxyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, arylcarbonyloxy, alkoxycarbonyloxy, aryloxycarbonyloxy, carboxylate, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylthiocarbonyl, alkoxyl, phosphate, phosphonato, phosphinato, cyano, amino (including alkyl amino, dialkylamino, arylamino, diarylamino, and alkylarylamino), acylamino (including alkylcarbonylamino, arylcarbonylamino, carbamoyl and ureido), amidino, imino, sulfhydryl, alkylthio, arylthio, thiocarboxylate, sulfates, sulfonato, sulfamoyl, sulfonamido, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, azido, heterocyclyl, alkyl, alkylaryl, or an aromatic or heteroaromatic moiety

The term “heteroatom” as used herein means an atom of any element other than carbon or hydrogen. Preferred heteroatoms are nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus.

The term “amino acids” includes naturally and unnaturally occurring amino acids found in proteins such as glycine, alanine, valine, cysteine, leucine, isoleucine, serine, threonine, methionine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glutamine, asparagine, lysine, arginine, proline, histidine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. Amino acid analogs include amino acids with lengthened or shortened side chains or variant side chains with appropriate functional groups. Amino acids also include D and L stereoisomers of an amino acid when the structure of the amino acid admits of stereoisomeric forms. The term “dipeptide” includes two or more amino acids linked together. Preferably, dipeptides are two amino acids linked via a peptide linkage. Particularly preferred dipeptides include, for example, alanine-alanine and glycine-alanine.

It will be noted that the structure of some of the compounds of this invention includes asymmetric carbon atoms and thus occur as racemates and racemic mixtures, single enantiomers, diastereomeric mixtures and individual diastereomers. All such isomeric forms of these compounds are expressly included in this invention. Each stereogenic carbon may be of the R or S configuration. It is to be understood accordingly that the isomers arising from such asymmetry (e.g., all enantiomers and diastereomers) are included within the scope of this invention, unless indicated otherwise. Such isomers can be obtained in substantially pure form by classical separation techniques and by stereochemically controlled synthesis.

The invention further pertains to pharmaceutical compositions for treating a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine responsive state in a mammal, e.g., respiratory disorders (e.g., asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, and allergic rhinitis), renal disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and eye disorders. The pharmaceutical composition includes a therapeutically effective amount of a N-6 substituted 7-deazapurine, described supra, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. It is to be understood, that all of the deazapurines described above are included for therapeutic treatment. It is to be further understood that the deazapurines of the invention can be used alone or in combination with other deazapurines of the invention or in combination with additional therapeutic compounds, such as antibiotics, antiinflammatories, or anticancer agents, for example.

The term “antibiotic” is art recognized and is intended to include those substances produced by growing microorganisms and synthetic derivatives thereof, which eliminate or inhibit growth of pathogens and are selectively toxic to the pathogen while producing minimal or no deleterious effects upon the infected host subject. Suitable examples of antibiotics include, but are not limited to, the principle classes of aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, chloramphenicols, fuscidic acids, macrolides, penicillins, polymixins, tetracyclines and streptomycins.

The term “antiinflammatory” is art recognized and is intended to include those agents which act on body mechanisms, without directly antagonizing the causative agent of the inflammation such as glucocorticoids, aspirin, ibuprofen, NSAIDS, etc.

The term “anticancer agent” is art recognized and is intended to include those agents which diminish, eradicate, or prevent growth of cancer cells without, preferably, adversely affecting other physiological functions. Representative examples include cisplatin and cyclophosphamide.

When the compounds of the present invention are administered as pharmaceuticals, to humans and mammals, they can be given per se or as a pharmaceutical composition containing, for example, 0.1 to 99.5% (more preferably, 0.5 to 90%) of active ingredient in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” as used herein means a pharmaceutically acceptable material, composition or vehicle, such as a liquid or solid filler, diluent, excipient, solvent or encapsulating material, involved in carrying or transporting a compound(s) of the present invention on within or to the subject such that it can performs its intended function. Typically, such compounds are carried or transported from one organ, or portion of the body, to another organ, or portion of the body. Each carrier must be “acceptable” in the sense of being compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation and not injurious to the patient. Some examples of materials which can serve as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include: sugars, such as lactose, glucose and sucrose; starches, such as corn starch and potato starch; cellulose, and its derivatives, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate; powdered tragacanth; malt; gelatin; talc; excipients, such as cocoa butter and suppository waxes; oils, such as peanut oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, corn oil and soybean oil; glycols, such as propylene glycol; polyols, such as glycerin, sorbitol, mannitol and polyethylene glycol; esters, such as ethyl oleate and ethyl laurate; agar; buffering agents, such as magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide; alginic acid; pyrogen-free water; isotonic saline; Ringer's solution; ethyl alcohol; phosphate buffer solutions; and other non-toxic compatible substances employed in pharmaceutical formulations.

As set out above, certain embodiments of the present compounds can contain a basic functional group, such as amino or alkylamino, and are, thus, capable of forming pharmaceutically acceptable salts with pharmaceutically acceptable acids. The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” in this respect, refers to the relatively non-toxic, inorganic and organic acid addition salts of compounds of the present invention. These salts can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of the compounds of the invention, or by separately reacting a purified compound of the invention in its free base form with a suitable organic or inorganic acid, and isolating the salt thus formed. Representative salts include the hydrobromide, hydrochloride, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphate, nitrate, acetate, valtrate, oleate, palmitate, stearate, laurate, benzoate, lactate, phosphate, tosylate, citrate, maleate, fumarate, succinate, tartrate, napthylate, mesylate, glucoheptonate, lactobionate, and laurylsulphonate salts and the like. (See, e.g., Berge et al. (1977) “Pharmaceutical Salts”, J. Pharm. Sci. 66:1-19).

In other cases, the compounds of the present invention may contain one or more acidic functional groups and, thus, are capable of forming pharmaceutically acceptable salts with pharmaceutically acceptable bases. The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” in these instances refers to the relatively non-toxic, inorganic and organic base addition salts of compounds of the present invention. These salts can likewise be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of the compounds, or by separately reacting the purified compound in its free acid form with a suitable base, such as the hydroxide, carbonate or bicarbonate of a pharmaceutically acceptable metal cation, with ammonia, or with a pharmaceutically acceptable organic primary, secondary or tertiary amine. Representative alkali or alkaline earth salts include the lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and aluminum salts and the like. Representative organic amines useful for the formation of base addition salts include ethylamine, diethylamine, ethylenediamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, piperazine and the like.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable esters” refers to the relatively non-toxic, esterified products of the compounds of the present invention. These esters can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of the compounds, or by separately reacting the purified compound in its free acid form or hydroxyl with a suitable esterifying agent. Carboxylic acids can be converted into esters via treatment with an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. Hydroxyl containing derivatives can be converted into esters via treatment with an esterifying agent such as alkanoyl halides. The term is further intended to include lower hydrocarbon groups capable of being solvated under physiological conditions, e.g., alkyl esters, methyl, ethyl and propyl esters. (See, for example, Berge et al., supra.)

The invention further contemplates the use of prodrugs which are converted in vivo to the therapeutic compounds of the invention (see, e.g., R. B. Silverman, 1992, “The Organic Chemistry of Drug Design and Drug Action”, Academic Press, Chapter 8). Such prodrugs can be used to alter the biodistribution (e.g., to allow compounds which would not typically enter the reactive site of the protease) or the pharmacokinetics of the therapeutic compound. For example, a carboxylic acid group, can be esterified, e.g., with a methyl group or an ethyl group to yield an ester. When the ester is administered to a subject, the ester is cleaved, enzymatically or non-enzymatically, reductively or hydrolytically, to reveal the anionic group. An anionic group can be esterified with moieties (e.g., acyloxymethyl esters) which are cleaved to reveal an intermediate compound which subsequently decomposes to yield the active compound. In another embodiment, the prodrug is a reduced form of a sulfate or sulfonate, e.g., a thiol, which is oxidized in vivo to the therapeutic compound. Furthermore, an anionic moiety can be esterified to a group which is actively transported in vivo, or which is selectively taken up by target organs. The ester can be selected to allow specific targeting of the therapeutic moieties to particular reactive sites, as described below for carrier moieties.

Carrier Linkages for Various Functional Groups

a. Alcohols and Carboxylic Acids. There are several reasons why the most common prodrug form for drugs containing alcohol or carboxylic acid functional groups is an ester. First, esterases are ubiquitous, so metabolic regeneration of the drug is a facile process. Also, it is possible to prepare ester derivatives with virtually any degree of hydrophilicity or lipophilicity. Finally, a variety of stabilities of esters can be obtained by appropriate manipulation of electronic and steric factors. Therefore, a multitude of ester prodrugs can be prepared to accomodate a wide variety of problems that require the prodrug approach.

Alcohol-containing drugs can be acylated with aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acids to decrease water solubility (increase lipophilicity) or with carboxylic acids containing amino or additional carboxylate groups to increase water solubility. Conversion to phosphate or sulfate esters also increases water solubility. By using these approaches a wide range of solubilities can be achieved that will affect the absorption and distribution properties of the drug. These derivatives also can have an important effect on the dosage form, that is, whether used in a tablet form or in aqueous solution. One problem with the use of this prodrug approach is that in some cases the esters are not very good substrates for the endogenous esterases, sulfatases, or phosphatases, and they may not be hydrolized at a rapid enough rate. When that occurs, however, a different ester can be tried. Another approach to accelerate the hydrolysis rate could be to attach electron-withdrawing groups (if a base hydrolysis mechanism is relevant) or electron-donating groups (if an acid hydrolysis mechanism is important) to the carboxylate side of the ester. Succinate esters can be used to accelerate the rate of hydrolysis by intramolecular catalysis. If the ester is too reactive, substituents can be appended that cause steric hindrance to hydrolysis. Alcohol-containing drugs also can be converted to the corresponding acetals or ketals for rapid hydrolysis in the acidic medium of the gastrointestinal tract.

Carboxylic acid-containing drugs also can be esterified; the reactivity of the derivatized drug can be adjusted by the appropriate structural manipulations. If a slower rate of ester hydrolysis is desired, long-chain aliphatic or sterically hindered esters can be used. If hydrolysis is too slow, addition of electron-withdrawing groups on the alcohol part of the ester can increase the rate. The pKa of a carboxylic acid can be raised by conversion to a choline ester or an amino ester.

b. Amines. N-Acylation of amines to give amide prodrugs is not commonly used, in general, because of the stability of amides toward metabolic hydrolysis. Activated amides, generally of low basicity amines, or amides of amino acids are more susceptible to enzymatic cleavage. Although carbamates in general are too stable, phenyl carbamates (RNHCO2Ph) are rapidly cleaved by plasma enzymes, and, therefore, they can be used as prodrugs.

The pKa values of amines can be lowered by approximately 3 units by conversion to their N-Mannich bases. This lowers the basicity of the amine so that at physiological Ph few of the prodrug molecules are protonated, thereby increasing its lipophilicity. For example, the partition coefficient between octanol and phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, for the N-Mannich base derived from benzamide and the decongestant phenylpropanolamine is almot 100 times greater than that for the parent amine. However, the rate of hydrolysis of N-Mannich bases depends on the amide carrier group; salicylamide and succinimide are more susceptible to hydrolysis than is benzamide.

Another approach for lowering the pKa values of amines and, thereby, making them more lipophilic, is to convert them to imines (Schiff bases); however, imines often are to labile in aqueous solution. The anticonvulsant agent progabide (8.3) is a prodrug from of γ-aminobutyric acid, an important inhibitory neurotransmitter. The lipophilicity of 8.3 allows the compound to cross the blood-brain barrier; once inside the brain it is hydrolized to γ-aminobutyric acid.

c. Carbonyl Compounds. The most important prodrug forms of aldehydes and ketones are Schiff bases, oximes, acetals (ketals), enol esters, oxazolidines, and thiazolidines (Table 8.3). A more complete review of bioreversible derivatives of the functional groups was written by Bundgaard.

Wetting agents, emulsifiers and lubricants, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and magnesium stearate, as well as coloring agents, release agents, coating agents, sweetening, flavoring and perfuming agents, preservatives and antioxidants can also be present in the compositions.

Formulations of the present invention include those suitable for oral, nasal, topical, transdermal, buccal, sublingual, rectal, vaginal and/or parenteral administration. The formulations may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form and may be prepared by any methods well known in the art of pharmacy. The amount of active ingredient which can be combined with a carrier material to produce a single dosage form will generally be that amount of the compound which produces a therapeutic effect. Generally, out of one hundred percent, this amount will range from about 1 percent to about ninety-nine percent of active ingredient, preferably from about 5 percent to about 70 percent, most preferably from about 10 percent to about 30 percent.

Methods of preparing these formulations or compositions include the step of bringing into association a compound of the present invention with the carrier and, optionally, one or more accessory ingredients. In general, the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association a compound of the present invention with liquid carriers, or finely divided solid carriers, or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product.

Formulations of the invention suitable for oral administration may be in the form of capsules, cachets, pills, tablets, lozenges (using a flavored basis, usually sucrose and acacia or tragacanth), powders, granules, or as a solution or a suspension in an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid, or as an oil-in-water or water-in-oil liquid emulsion, or as an elixir or syrup, or as pastilles (using an inert base, such as gelatin and glycerin, or sucrose and acacia) and/or as mouth washes and the like, each containing a predetermined amount of a compound of the present invention as an active ingredient. A compound of the present invention may also be administered as a bolus, electuary or paste.

In solid dosage forms of the invention for oral administration (capsules, tablets, pills, dragees, powders, granules and the like), the active ingredient is mixed with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, such as sodium citrate or dicalcium phosphate, and/or any of the following: fillers or extenders, such as starches, lactose, sucrose, glucose, mannitol, and/or silicic acid; binders, such as, for example, carboxymethylcellulose, alginates, gelatin, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, sucrose and/or acacia; humectants, such as glycerol; disintegrating agents, such as agar-agar, calcium carbonate, potato or tapioca starch, alginic acid, certain silicates, and sodium carbonate; solution retarding agents, such as paraffin; absorption accelerators, such as quaternary ammonium compounds; wetting agents, such as, for example, cetyl alcohol and glycerol monostearate; absorbents, such as kaolin and bentonite clay; lubricants, such a talc, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, solid polyethylene glycols, sodium lauryl sulfate, and mixtures thereof; and coloring agents. In the case of capsules, tablets and pills, the pharmaceutical compositions may also comprise buffering agents. Solid compositions of a similar type may also be employed as fillers in soft and hard-filled gelatin capsules using such excipients as lactose or milk sugars, as well as high molecular weight polyethylene glycols and the like.

A tablet may be made by compression or molding, optionally with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressed tablets may be prepared using binder (for example, gelatin or hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose), lubricant, inert diluent, preservative, disintegrant (for example, sodium starch glycolate or cross-linked sodium carboxymethyl cellulose), surface-active or dispersing agent. Molded tablets may be made by molding in a suitable machine a mixture of the powdered compound moistened with an inert liquid diluent.

The tablets, and other solid dosage forms of the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention, such as dragees, capsules, pills and granules, may optionally be scored or prepared with coatings and shells, such as enteric coatings and other coatings well known in the pharmaceutical-formulating art. They may also be formulated so as to provide slow or controlled release of the active ingredient therein using, for example, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose in varying proportions to provide the desired release profile, other polymer matrices, liposomes and/or microspheres. They may be sterilized by, for example, filtration through a bacteria-retaining filter, or by incorporating sterilizing agents in the form of sterile solid compositions which can be dissolved in sterile water, or some other sterile injectable medium immediately before use. These compositions may also optionally contain opacifying agents and may be of a composition that they release the active ingredient(s) only, or preferentially, in a certain portion of the gastrointestinal tract, optionally, in a delayed manner. Examples of embedding compositions which can be used include polymeric substances and waxes. The active ingredient can also be in micro-encapsulated form, if appropriate, with one or more of the above-described excipients.

Formulations of the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention for rectal or vaginal administration may be presented as a suppository, which may be prepared by mixing one or more compounds of the invention with one or more suitable nonirritating excipients or carriers comprising, for example, cocoa butter, polyethylene glycol, a suppository wax or a salicylate, and which is solid at room temperature, but liquid at body temperature and, therefore, will melt in the rectum or vaginal cavity and release the active compound.

Formulations of the present invention which are suitable for vaginal administration also include pessaries, tampons, creams, gels, pastes, foams or spray formulations containing such carriers as are known in the art to be appropriate.

Dosage forms for the topical or transdermal administration of a compound of this invention include powders, sprays, ointments, pastes, creams, lotions, gels, solutions, patches and inhalants. The active compound may be mixed under sterile conditions with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and with any preservatives, buffers, or propellants which may be required.

Powders and sprays can contain, in addition to a compound of this invention, excipients such as lactose, talc, silicic acid, aluminum hydroxide, calcium silicates and polyamide powder, or mixtures of these substances. Sprays can additionally contain customary propellants, such as chlorofluorohydrocarbons and volatile unsubstituted hydrocarbons, such as butane and propane.

Transdermal patches have the added advantage of providing controlled delivery of a compound of the present invention to the body. Such dosage forms can be made by dissolving or dispersing the compound in the proper medium. Absorption enhancers can also be used to increase the flux of the compound across the skin. The rate of such flux can be controlled by either providing a rate controlling membrane or dispersing the active compound in a polymer matrix or gel.

Ophthalmic formulations, eye ointments, powders, solutions and the like, are also contemplated as being within the scope of this invention. Preferably, the pharmaceutical preparation is an ophthalmic formulation (e.g., an periocular, retrobulbar or intraocular injection formulation, a systemic formulation, or a surgical irrigating solution).

The ophthalmic formulations of the present invention may include one or more deazapurines and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. Various types of vehicles may be used. The vehicles will generally be aqueous in nature. Aqueous solutions are generally preferred, based on case of formulation, as well as a patient's ability to easily administer such compositions by means of instilling one to two drops of the solutions in the affected eyes. However, the deazapurines of the present invention may also be readily incorporated into other types of compositions, such as suspensions, viscous or semi-viscous gels or other types of solid or semi-solid compositions. The ophthalmic compositions of the present invention may also include various other ingredients, such as buffers, preservatives, co-solvents and viscosity building agents.

An appropriate buffer system (e.g., sodium phosphate, sodium acetate or sodium borate) may be added to prevent pH drift under storage conditions.

Ophthalmic products are typically packaged in multidose form. Preservatives are thus required to prevent microbial contamination during use. Suitable preservatives include: benzalkonium chloride, thimerosal, chlorobutanol, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, phenylethyl alcohol, edetate disodium, sorbic acid, polyquaternium-1, or other agents known to those skilled in the art. Such preservatives are typically employed at a level of from 0.001 to 1.0% weight/volume (“% w/v”).

When the deazapurines of the present invention are administered during intraocular surgical procedures, such as through retrobulbar or periocular injection and intraocular perfusion or injection, the use of balanced salt irrigating solutions as vehicles are most preferred. BSS® Sterile Irrigating Solution and BSS Plus® Sterile Intraocular Irrigating Solution (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, Tex., USA) are examples of physiologically balanced intraocular irrigating solutions. The latter type of solution is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,022 (Garabedian, et al.), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated in the present specification by reference. Retrobulbar and periocular injections are known to those skilled in the art and are described in numerous publications including, For example, Ophthalmic Surgery: Principles of Practice, Ed., G. L. Spaeth. W. B. Sanders Co., Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.A., pages 85-87 (1990).

As indicated above, use of deazapurines to prevent or reduce damage to retinal and optic nerve head tissues at the cellular level is a particularly important aspect of one embodiment of the invention. Ophthalmic conditions which may be treated include, but are not limited to, retinopathies, macular degeneration, ocular ischemia, glaucoma, and damage associated with injuries to ophthalmic tissues, such as ischemia reperfusion injuries, photochemical injuries, and injuries associated with ocular surgery, particularly injuries to the retina or optic nerve head by exposure to light or surgical instruments. The compounds may also be used as an adjunct to ophthalmic surgery, such as by vitreal or subconjunctival injection following ophthalmic surgery. The compounds may be used for acute treatment of temporary conditions, or may be administered chronically, especially in the case of degenerative disease. The compounds may also be used prophylactically, especially prior to ocular surgery or noninvasive ophthalmic procedures, or other types of surgery.

Pharmaceutical compositions of this invention suitable for parenteral administration comprise one or more compounds of the invention in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable sterile isotonic aqueous or nonaqueous solutions, dispersions, suspensions or emulsions, or sterile powders which may be reconstituted into sterile injectable solutions or dispersions just prior to use, which may contain antioxidants, buffers, bacteriostats, solutes which render the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient or suspending or thickening agents.

Examples of suitable aqueous and nonaqueous carriers which may be employed in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention include water, ethanol, polyols (such as glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and the like), and suitable mixtures thereof, vegetable oils, such as olive oil, and injectable organic esters, such as ethyl oleate. Proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of coating materials, such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersions, and by the use of surfactants.

These compositions may also contain adjuvants such as preservatives, wetting agents, emulsifying agents and dispersing agents. Prevention of the action of microorganisms may be ensured by the inclusion of various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, paraben, chlorobutanol, phenol sorbic acid, and the like. It may also be desirable to include isotonic agents, such as sugars, sodium chloride, and the like into the compositions. In addition, prolonged absorption of the injectable pharmaceutical form may be brought about by the inclusion of agents which delay absorption such as aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

In some cases, in order to prolong the effect of a drug, it is desirable to slow the absorption of the drug from subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. This may be accomplished by the use of a liquid suspension of crystalline or amorphous material having poor water solubility. The rate of absorption of the drug then depends upon its rate of dissolution which, in turn, may depend upon crystal size and crystalline form. Alternatively, delayed absorption of a parenterally-administered drug form is accomplished by dissolving or suspending the drug in an oil vehicle.

Injectable depot forms are made by forming microencapsule matrices of the subject compounds in biodegradable polymers such as polylactide-polyglycolide. Depending on the ratio of drug to polymer, and the nature of the particular polymer employed, the rate of drug release can be controlled. Examples of other biodegradable polymers include poly(orthoesters) and poly(anhydrides). Depot injectable formulations are also prepared by entrapping the drug in liposomes or microemulsions which are compatible with body tissue.

The preparations of the present invention may be given orally, parenterally, topically, or rectally. They are of course given by forms suitable for each administration route. For example, they are administered in tablets or capsule form, by injection, inhalation, eye lotion, ointment, suppository, etc. administration by injection, infusion or inhalation; topical by lotion or ointment; and rectal by suppositories. Oral administration is preferred.

The phrases “systemic administration,” “administered systematically,” “peripheral administration” and “administered peripherally” as used herein mean the administration of a compound, drug or other material other than directly into the central nervous system, such that it enters the patient's system and, thus, is subject to metabolism and other like processes, for example, subcutaneous administration.

These compounds may be administered to humans and other animals for therapy by any suitable route of administration, including orally, nasally, as by, for example, a spray, rectally, intravaginally, parenterally, intracisternally and topically, as by powders, ointments or drops, including buccally and sublingually.

Regardless of the route of administration selected, the compounds of the present invention, which may be used in a suitable hydrated form, and/or the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention, are formulated into pharmaceutically acceptable dosage forms by conventional methods known to those of skill in the art.

Actual dosage levels of the active ingredients in the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be varied so as to obtain an amount of the active ingredient which is effective to achieve the desired therapeutic response for a particular patient, composition, and mode of administration, without being toxic to the patient.

The selected dosage level will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity of the particular compound of the present invention employed, or the ester, salt or amide thereof, the route of administration, the time of administration, the rate of excretion of the particular compound being employed, the duration of the treatment, other drugs, compounds and/or materials used in combination with the particular compound employed, the age, sex, weight, condition, general health and prior medical history of the patient being treated, and like factors well known in the medical arts.

A physician or veterinarian having ordinary skill in the art can readily determine and prescribe the effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition required For example, the physician or veterinarian could start doses of the compounds of the invention employed in the pharmaceutical composition at levels lower than that required in order to achieve the desired therapeutic effect and gradually increase the dosage until the desired effect is achieved.

In general, a suitable daily dose of a compound of the invention will be that amount of the compound which is the lowest dose effective to produce a therapeutic effect. Such an effective dose will generally depend upon the factors described above. Generally, intravenous and subcutaneous doses of the compounds of this invention for a patient, when used for the indicated analgesic effects, will range from about 0.0001 to about 200 mg per kilogram of body weight per day, more preferably from about 0.01 to about 150 mg per kg per day, and still more preferably from about 0.2 to about 140 mg per kg per day.

If desired, the effective daily dose of the active compound may be administered as two, three, four, five, six or more sub-doses administered separately at appropriate intervals throughout the day, optionally, in unit dosage forms.

While it is possible for a compound of the present invention to be administered alone, it is preferable to administer the compound as a pharmaceutical composition.

The present invention also pertains to packaged pharmaceutical compositions for treating a N-6 substituted 7 deazapurine responsive state, e.g., undesirable increased adenosine receptor activity in a mammal. The packaged pharmaceutical compositions include a container holding a therapeutically effective amount of at least one deazapurine as described supra and instructions for using the deazapurine for treating the deazapurine responsive state in the mammal.

The deazapurines of the invention can be prepared using standard methods for organic synthesis. Deazapurines can be purified by reverse phase HPLC, chromatography, recrystallization, etc. and their structures confirmed by mass spectral analysis, elemental analysis, IR and/or NMR spectroscopy.

Typically, synthesis of the intermediates as well as the deazapurines of the invention is performed in solution. The addition and removal of one or more protecting group is also typical practice and is known to those skilled in the art. Typical synthetic schemes for the preparation of deazapurine intermediates of the invention are outlined below in Scheme I.

wherein R2 and R2′ are independently H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, halogen, methoxy, methyl amino, or methyl thio; wherein R3 is H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, amino, substituted aryl, wherein said substituted alkyl is —C(R7)(R6)XR5, wherein X is O, S, or NR6, wherein R7 and R6 are each independently H or alkyl, wherein R5 and R6 are each independently alkyl or cycloalkyl, or NR5R6 is a substituted or unsubstituted ring of between 4 and 7 members;

wherein R4 is H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a prodrug derivative, or a biologically active metabolite, with proviso that when R2 acetylamino ethyl, Ar is not 4-pyridyl.

In one embodiment of the compound having structure IV, NR5R6 is a substituted or unsubstituted ring of between 4 and 7 members which is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein R3 is H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, amino, substituted aryl, wherein said substituted alkyl is —C(R7)(R8)NR5R6, wherein R7 and R6 are each independently H or alkyl, wherein R5 and R6 are each independently alkyl or cycloalkyl, or R5, R6 and the nitrogen together form a substituted or unsubstituted ring of between 4 and 7 members.

In another embodiment of the compound, Y is carbon.

In another embodiment of the compound, R2 is hydrogen.

In another embodiment of the compound, R4 is hydrogen.

In another embodiment of the compound, R3 is hydrogen.

In another embodiment of the compound, R3 and R4 are each methyl.

In another embodiment of the compound, R3 is —C(R7)(R8)NR5R6, wherein R7 and R6 are each independently H or alkyl, wherein R5 and R6 are each independently alkyl or cycloalkyl, or R5, R6 and the nitrogen together form a substituted or unsubstituted ring of between 4 and 7 members.

In another embodiment of the compound, R2 is halogen.

In another embodiment of the compound, Y is nitrogen.

In yet another embodiment of the compound, R2 is hydrogen.

In a further embodiment of the compound, R3 and R4 are each hydrogen.

This invention also provides a compound having the structure (V):

wherein R1 is aryl, substituted aryl, or heteroaryl;

wherein R2 is H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, or cycloalkyl;

wherein R3 is H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, amino, substituted aryl, wherein said substituted alkyl is —C(R6)(R7)NR4R5, wherein R6 and R7 are each H or alkyl, wherein R4 and R5 are each alkyl or cycloalkyl, or R4 R5 and the nitrogen together form a ring system of between 4 and 7 members.

In one embodiment of the compound having structure V, R6 and R7 are each H; wherein R4 is H and R5 is —R12C(═O)R13.

In another embodiment of the compound having structure V, R6 and R7 are each H; wherein the ring system is morpholino, thiomorpholino, N-4-substituted piperazino, 2-substituted piperazine, or R8 substituted pyrrolidino, piperadine, wherein R8 is H, OH, CH2OH, —C(═O)NR9R10, NR11, wherein R11 is —C(═O)CH3, —SO2Me.

In another embodiment of the compound, the compound has the following structure:

In another embodiment of the compound, the compound has the structure:

In another embodiment of the compound, the compound has the structure:

In another embodiment of the compound, the compound has the structure:

In another embodiment of the compound, the compound has the structure:

In another embodiment of the compound, the compound has the structure:

In another embodiment of the compound, the compound has the structure:

This invention further provides a method for treating a disease associated with A1 adenosine receptor in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having the formula IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, or X.

In one embodiment of the method, the subject is a mammal. In another embodiment of the method, the mammal is a human.

This invention also provides a combination therapy for asthma, comprising compounds IV and V, and a steroid, β2 agonist, glucocoticoid, lucotriene antagonist, or anticolinegic agonist. Diseases associated with adenosine A1, A2a, A2b and A3 receptors are disclosed in WO 99/06053 and WO-09822465, WO-09705138, WO-09511681, WO-09733879, JP-09291089, PCT/US98/16053 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,894, the entire content of which are fully incorporate herein by reference.

This invention also provides a water-soluble prodrug of a compound having the structures IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, or X, wherein said water-soluble prodrug that is metabolized in vivo to an active drug which selectively inhibit A1 adenosine receptor.

In one embodiment of the prodrug, said prodrug is metabolized in vivo by esterase catalyzed hydrolysis.

This invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising the prodrug and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

This invention further provides a method for inhibiting the activity of an A1 adenosine receptor in a cell, which comprises contacting said cell with a compound having the structures IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, or X.

In one embodiment of the method, the compound is an antagonist of said A1 adenosine receptor.

This invention also provides for a method for treating a gastrointestinal disorder in an subject, comprising administering to the an effective amount of a compound having the structures IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, or X.

In one embodiment of the method, said disorder is diarrhea.

In another embodiment of the method, the subject is a human.

In another method of the method, the compound is an antagonist of A1 adenosine receptors.

This invention also provides a method for treating respiratory disorder in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound having the structures IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, or X.

In one embodiment of the method, said disorder is asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, allergic rhinitis, or an upper respiratory disorder.

In another embodiment of the method, the subject is a human.

In another embodiment of the method, said compound is an antagonist of A1 adenosine receptors.

This invention further provides a method for treating damage to the eye of a subject which comprises administering to said subject an effective amount of a compound having the structures IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, or X.

In one embodiment of the method, said damage comprises retinal or optic nerve head damage.

In another embodiment of the method, said damage is acute or chronic.

In another embodiment of the method, wherein said damage is the result of glaucoma, edema, ischemia, hypoxia or trauma.

In another embodiment of the method, the subject is a human.

In another embodiment of the method, the compound is an antagonist of A1 adenosine receptors.

This invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having the structures IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, or X, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In another embodiment of the pharmaceutical composition, said therapeutically effective amount is effective to treat a respiratory disorder or a gastrointestinal disorder.

In another embodiment of the pharmaceutical composition, said gastrointestinal disorder is diarrhea.

In another embodiment of the pharmaceutical composition, said respiratory disorder is asthma, allergic rhinitis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

In another embodiment of the pharmaceutical composition, said pharmaceutical composition is an ophthalmic formulation.

In another embodiment of the pharmaceutical composition, said pharmaceutical composition is an periocular, retrobulbar or intraocular injection formulation.

In yet another embodiment of the pharmaceutical composition, said pharmaceutical composition is a systemic formulation.

In a further embodiment of the pharmaceutical preparation, said pharmaceutical composition is a surgical irrigating solution.

This invention also provides a packaged pharmaceutical composition for treating a disease associated with Al adenosine receptor in a subject, comprising: (a) a container holding a therapeutically effective amount of an adenosine Al specific compound; and (b) instructions for using said compound for treating said disease in a subject.

As used herein, “A compound is A1 selective.” means that a compound has a binding constant to adenosine A1 receptor of at least ten time higher then that to adenosine A2a, A2b or A3.

This invention also provides a method of preparing the compound having structure IV, comprising the steps of

a) reacting

to provide

wherein P is a removable protecting group;

b) treating the product of step a) under cyclization conditions to provide

c) treating the product of step b) under suitable conditions to provide

wherein Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted four to six membered ring;

wherein R4 is H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or a prodrug derivative, or a biologically active metabolite; with the proviso that when R1 is acetylamino ethyl, Ar is not 4-pyridyl.

This invention also provides a method of preparing the compound having structure V, comprising the steps of

a) reacting

to provide

wherein P is a removable protecting group;

b) treating the product of step a) under cyclization conditions to provide

c) treating the product of step b) under suitable conditions to provide

and

d) treating the chlorinated product of step c) with

to provide

wherein R2 is aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl;

wherein R2 is H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, or cycloalkyl; wherein R3 is H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, amino, substituted aryl, wherein said substituted alkyl is —C(R6)(R7)NR4R5, wherein R6 and R7 are each H or alkyl, wherein R4 and R5 are each alkyl or cycloalkyl, or NR4R5 is a ring system of between 4 and 7 members.

Compounds represented by formula VI, VII, and VIII can be synthesized by any of the Schemes I-VIII. Compounds represented by formula IX, and X can be prepared by Scheme IX.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples which in no way should be construed as being further limiting. The contents of all references, pending patent applications and published patent applications, cited throughout this application, including those referenced in the background section, are hereby incorporated by reference. It should be understood that the models used throughout the examples are accepted models and that the demonstration of efficacy in these models is predictive of efficacy in humans.

This invention will be better understood from the Experimental Details which follow. However, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the specific methods and results discussed are merely illustrative of the invention as described more fully in the claims which follow thereafter.

EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS

The deazapurines of the invention can be prepared using standard methods for organic synthesis. Deazapurines can be purified by reverse phase HPLC, chromatography, recrystallization, etc. and their structures confirmed by mass spectral analysis, elemental analysis, IR and/or NMR spectroscopy.

Typically, synthesis of the intermediates as well as the deazapurines of the invention is performed in solution. The addition and removal of one or more protecting group is also typical practice and is known to those skilled in the art. Typical synthetic schemes for the preparation of deazapurine intermediates of the invention are outlined below in Scheme I.

wherein R3, R5 and R6 are as defined above.

In general, a protected 2-amino-3-cyano-pyrrole can be treated with an acyl halide to form a carboxyamido-3-cyano-pyrrole which can be treated with acidic methanol to effect ring closure to a pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine-4(3H)-one (Muller, C. E. et al. J. Med. Chem. 40:4396 (1997)). Removal of the pyrrolo protecting group followed by treatment with a chlorinating reagent, e.g., phosphorous oxychloride, produced substituted or unsubstituted 4-chloro-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidines. Treatment of the chloropyrimidine with amines afforded 7-deazapurines.

For example, as shown in Scheme I, a N-(1-dl-phenylethyl)-2-amino-3-cyano-pyrrole was treated with an acyl halide in pyridine and dichloromethane. The resultant N-(1-dl-phenylethyl)-2-phenylcarboxyamido-3-cyano-pyrrole was treated with a 10:1 mixture of methanol/sulfuric acid to effect ring closure, resulting in a dl-7H-7-(1-phenylethyl)pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine-4(3H)-one. Removal of the phenylethyl group by treatment of the pyrimidine with polyphosphoric acid (PPA) followed by POCl3 afforded a key intermediate, the 4-chloro-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine. Further treatment of the 4-chloro-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine with various amines listed in Table 1 gives compounds of formula (I) and (II).

TABLE 1

R

M− + H

343.2

343.18

337.21

364.19

330.18

347.22

350.28

351.27

430.35

359.44

404.32

330.45

339.47

353.41

344.19

394.16

371.12

359.39

403.33

351.49

330.37

324.45

359.38

379.40

387.41

344.48

337.53

295.2

407.23

355.45

441.33

413.24

372.48

321.2

337.53

350.2

343.2

373.2

307.2

A general approach to prepare 6-substituted pyrroles is depicted in the following scheme (Scheme II).

wherein R1 through R5 are as defined above.

Transesterification and alkylation of ethyl cyanoacetate with an α-haloketone affords a ketomethylester. Protection of the ketone followed by treatment with an amidine (e.g., alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl) hydrochloride produced the resultant ketal protected pyrimidine. Removal of the protecting group, followed by cyclization and treatment with phosphorous oxychloride afforded the chloride intermediate which could be further treated with an amine to afford an amine 6-substituted pyrrole. Additionally, alkylation of the pyrrole nitrogen can be achieved under art recognized conditions.

A general approach to prepare 5-substituted pyrroles is depicted in the following scheme (Scheme III).

wherein R1 through R6 are defined as above and R is a removable protecting group.

Condensation of malononitrile and an excess of a ketone followed by bromination of the product afforded a mixture of starting material, monobrominated and dibrominated products which were treated with an alkylamine, arylamine or alkylarylamine. The resultant amine product was acylated with an acid chloride and the monacylated pyrrole was cyclized in the presence of acid to afford the corresponding pyrimidine. The pyrrole protecting group was removed with polyphosphoric acid and treated with phosphorous oxychloride to produce a chlorinated product. The chlorinated pyrrole could subsequently be treated with an amine to produce an amino 5-substituted pyrrole. Alkylation of the pyrrole nitrogen can be achieved under art recognized conditions.

Schemes IV and V depict methods for preparing the deazapurines 1 and 2 of the invention.

wherein R5 and R6 are as described above, e.g., CH3.

Specific Preparation of 6-Methyl Pyrrolopyrimidines

The key reaction toward 6-methylpyrrolopyrimidines (1)[R5=CH3] was cyclization of a cyanoacetate with benzamidine to a pyrimidine. It was believed methyl cyanoacetate would cyclize more efficiently with benzamidine to a pyrimidine than the corresponding ethyl ester. Therefore, transesterification and alkylation of ethyl cyanoacetate in the presence of NaOMe and an excess of an α-haloacetyl moiety, e.g., chloroacetone, gave the desired methyl ester (3) in 79% yield (Scheme IV). The ketoester (3) was protected as the acetal (4) in 81% yield. A new cyclization method to the pyrimidine (5) was achieved with an amidine hydrochloride, e.g., benzamidine hydrochloride, with 2 equivalents of DBU to afford the 5 in 54% isolated yield. This method improves the yield from 20% using the published conditions, which utilizes NaOMe during the cyclization with guanidine. Cyclization to the pyrrole-pyrimidine (6) was achieved via deprotection of the acetal in aqueous HCl in 78% yield. Reaction of (6) with phosphorous oxychloride at reflux gave the corresponding 4-chloro derivative (7). Coupling with trans-4-aminocyclohexanol in dimethyl sulfoxide at 135° C. gave (1) in 57% from (7). One skilled in the art will appreciate that choice of reagents allows for great flexibility in choosing the desired substituent R5.

Specific Preparation of 5-Methylpyrrolopyrimidines

Knoevengel condensation of malononitrile and an excess ketone, e.g., acetone in refluxing benzene gave 8 in 50% yield after distillation. Bromination of 8 with N-bromosuccinimde in the presence of benzoyl peroxide in chloroform yielded a mixture of starting material, mono-(9), and di-brominated products (5/90/5) after distillation (70%). The mixture was reacted with an α-methylalkylamine or α-methylarylamine, e.g., α-methylbenzylamine, to deliver the aminopyrrole (10). After passing through a short silica gel column, the partially purified amine (31% yield) was acylated with an acid chloride, e.g., benzoyl chloride to deliver mono-(11), and diacylated (12) pyrroles, which were separated by flash chromatography. Acid hydrolysis of the disubstituted pyrrole (12) generated a combined yield of 29% for the acylpyrrole (11). Cyclization in the presence of concentrated sulphuric acid and DMF yielded (13)(23%), which was deprotected with polyphosphoric acid to (14). Reaction of (14) with phosphorous oxychloride at reflux gave the corresponding 4-chloro derivative (15). Coupling with trans-4-aminocyclohexanol in dimethyl sulfoxide at 135° C. gave (2) [R6=CH3] in 30% from (14) (See Scheme V). One skilled in the art will appreciate that choice of reagents allows for great flexibility in choosing the desired substituent R6.

This alternative route to R6-substituted pyrroles, e.g., 5-methylpyrrolopyrimidines, involves transesterification and alkylation of ethyl cyanoacetate to (16) (Scheme VI). The condensation of (16) with benzamidine hydrochloride with 2 equivalents of DBU affords the pyrimidine (17). Cyclization to the pyrrole-pyrimidine (14) will be achieved via deprotection of the acetal in aqueous HCl. Reaction of (14) with phosphorous oxychloride at reflux gave the corresponding 4-chloro derivative (15). Coupling with trans-4-aminocyclohexanol in dimethyl sulfoxide at 135° C. gives 2. This procedure reduces the number of synthetic reactions to the target compound (2) from 9 to 4 steps. Moreover, the yield is dramatically improved. Again, one skilled in the art will appreciate that choice of reagents allows for great flexibility in choosing the desired substituent R6.

A general approach to prepare des-methyl pyrrole is depicted in the following scheme (Scheme VII)

wherein R1 through R3 are defined as above.

Alkylation of an alkyl cyanoacetate with a diethyl acetal in the presence of a base afforded a cyano diethyl acetal which was treated with an amidine salt to produce a methyl pyrrolopyrimidine precursor. The precursor was chlorinated and treated with an amine to form the des-methyl pyrrolopyrimidine target as shown above.

For example, Scheme VIII depicts the synthesis of compound (18).

Commercially available methyl cyanoacetate was alkylated with bromoacetaldehyde diethyl acetal in the presence of potassium carbonate and NaI to yield (19). Cyclization to the pyrimidine (20) was achieved in two steps. Initially, the pyrimidine-acetal was formed via reaction of (19) with benzamidine hydrochloride with 2 equivalents of DBU. The resultant pyrimidine-acetal was deprotected without purification with aqueous 1 N HCl and the resultant aldehyde cyclized to the pyrrolo-pyrimidine (20), which was isolated by filtration. Reaction of (20) with phosphorous oxychloride at reflux afforded the corresponding 4-chloro derivative (21). Coupling of the chloro derivative with trans-4-aminocyclohexanol in DMSO at 135° C. gave compound (18) from compound (21).

Schemes II-VIII demonstrate that it is possible to functionalize the 5- and 6-position of the pyrrolopyrimidine ring. Through the use of different starting reagents and slight modifications of the above reaction schemes, various functional groups can be introduced at the 5- and 6-positions in formula (I) and (II). Table 2 illustrates some examples.

TABLE 2

Selected list of 5- and 6-substituted pyrrolopyrimidines.

Starting Reagent

R5

R6

H

H

Substituted Ar

H

CH2C(O)OCH3

C(O)OCH3

CH3

C(O)NHCH3

CH3

A skilled artisan will know that metabolism of the compounds disclosed herein in a subject produces certain biologically active metabolites which can serve as drugs.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples which in no way should be construed as being further limiting. The contents of all references, pending patent applications and published patent applications, cited throughout this application, including those referenced in the background section, are hereby incorporated by reference. It should be understood that the models used throughout the examples are accepted models and that the demonstration of efficacy in these models is predictive of efficacy in humans.

To a solution of dl-1,2-diaminopropane (1.48 g, 20.0 mmol) and sodium carbonate (2.73 g, 22.0 mmol) in dioxane (100.0 mL) and water (100.0 mL) was added di-tert-dicarbonate (4.80 g, 22.0 mmol) at room temperature. The resulted mixture was stirred for 14 hr. Dioxane was removed in vacuo. The precipitate was filtered off and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to dryness. The residue was triturated with EtOAc and then filtered. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to dryness to give a mixture of dl-1-amino-2-(1,1-dimethylethoxy)carbonylamino-propane and dl-2-amino-1-(1,1-dimethylethoxy)carbonylamino-propane which were not separable by normal chromatography method. The mixture was used for the reaction in Example 8.

Preparation 13

To solution of Fmoc-β-Ala-OH (1.0 g, 3.212 mmol) and oxalyl chloride (0.428 g, 0.29 mL, 3.373 mmol) in dichloromethane (20.0 mL) was added a few drops of N,N-dimethylformamide at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hr followed by addition of cyclopropylmethylamine (0.229 g, 0.28 mL, 3.212 mmol) and triethylamine (0.65 g, 0.90 mL, 6.424 mmol). After 10 min, the mixture was treated with 1 M hydrochloride (10.0 mL) and the aqueous mixture was extracted with dichloromethane (3×30.0 mL). The organic solution was concentrated in vacuo to dryness. The residue was treated with a solution of 20% piperidine in N,N-dimethylforamide (20.0 mL) for 0.5 hr. After removal of the solvent in vacuo, the residue was treated with 1 M hydrochloride (20.0 mL) and ethyl acetate (20.0 mL). The mixture was separated and the aqueous layer was basified with solid sodium hydroxide to pH=8. The precipitate was removed by filtration and the aqueous solution was subjected to ion exchange column eluted with 20% pyridine to give 0.262 g (57%) of N-cyclopropylmethyl β-alanine amide. 1H NMR (200 MHz, CD3OD) δ—0.22 (m, 2H), 0.49 (m, 2H), 0.96 (m, 2H), 2.40 (t, 2H), 2.92 (t, 2H), 3.05 (d, 2H); MS (ES): 143.1 (M++1).

To a stirred suspension of triphenylphosphine (0.047 g, 0.179 mmol) and benzoic acid (0.022 g, 0.179 mmol) in THF (1.0 mL) cooled to 0° C. was added 4-(4-trans-hydroxycyclohexyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine (0.05 g, 0.149 mmol) at 0° C. Diethyl azodicarboxylate (0.028 ml, 0.179 mmol) was then added dropwise over 10 minutes. The reaction was then allowed to warm to room temperature. After reaction was complete by TLC the reaction mixture was quenched with aqueous sodium bicarbonate (3.0 mL). The aqueous phase was separated and extracted with ether (2×5.0 mL). The organic extracts were combined, dried, and concentrated in vacuo to dryness. To the residue was added ether (2.0 mL) and hexane (5.0 mL) whereupon the bulk of the triphenylphosphine oxide was filtered off. Concentration of the filtrate gave a viscous oil which was purified by column chromatography (hexane:ethyl acetate=4:1) to give 5.0 mg (7.6%) of 4-(4-cis-benzoyloxycyclohexyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine. MS (ES): 441.3 (M++1). The reaction also produced 50.0 mg (84%) of 4-(3-cyclohexenyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine. MS (ES): 319.2 (M++1).

EXAMPLE 3

To a solution of 4-(4-cis-benzoyloxycyclohexyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine (5.0 mg, 0.0114 mmol) in ethanol (1.0 mL) was added 10 drops of 2M sodium hydroxide. After 1 hr, the reaction mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×5.0 mL) and the organic layer was dried, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to dryness. The residue was subjected to column chromatography (hexane:ethyl acetate=4:1) to give 3.6 mg (94%) of 4-(4-cis-hydroxycyclohexyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine. MS (ES): 337.2 (M++1).

The following compounds were obtained in a similar manner as that of Example 3:

To a solution of 4-(2-aminoethyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine (60.0 mg, 0.213 mmol) in dichloromethane (2.0 mL) was added N-trimethylsilyl isocyanate (43.3 mg, 0.051 mL, 0.320 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hr followed by addition of aqueous sodium bicarbonate. After filtration through small amount of silica gel, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to dryness to give 9.8 mg (14%) of 4-(2-ureaethyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine. MS (ES): 325.2 (M++1).

The following compounds were obtained in a similar manner as that of Example 9:

A solution of Fmoc-β-Ala-OH (97.4 mg, 0.313 mmol) and oxalyl chloride (39.7 mg, 27.3 μL, 0.313 mmol) in dichloromethane (4.0 mL) with 1 drop of N,N-dimethylformamide was stirred at 0° C. for 1 hr followed by addition of 4-(2-aminoethyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine (80.0 mg, 0.285 mmol) and triethylamine (57.6 mg, 79.4 μL, 0.570 mmol) at 0° C. After 3 hr, the mixture was concentrated in vacuo and the residue was treated with the solution of 20% piperidine in N,N-dimethylforamide (2.0 mL) for 0.5 hr. After removal of the solvent in vacuo, the residue was washed with diethyl ether:hexane (1:5) to give 3.0 mg (3%) of 4-(6-amino-3-aza-4-oxohexyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine. MS (ES): 353.2 (M++1).

EXAMPLE 15

A solution of 4-(2-aminoethyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine (70.0 mg, 0.249 mmol) and succinic anhydride (27.0 mg, 0.274 mmol) in dichloromethane (4.0 mL) with 1 drop of N,N-dimethylformamide was stirred at room temperature for 4 hr. The reaction mixture was extracted with 20% sodium hydroxide (3×5.0 mL). The aqueous solution was acidified with 3 M hydrochloride to pH=7.0. The whole mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×10 mL). The combined organic solution was dried (MgSO4) and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to dryness to give 15.0 mg (16%) of 4-(7-hydroxy-3-aza-4,7-dioxoheptyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine. MS (ES): 382.2 (M++1).

EXAMPLE 16

To 10 mL of dimethylformamide (DMF) at room temperature were added 700 mg of 4-cis-3-hydroxycyclopentyl)amino-2-phenyl-5,6-dimethyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine followed by 455 mg of N-Boc glycine, 20 mg of N,N-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), 293 mg of hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) and 622 mg of 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarboiimide hydrochloride (EDCl). The reaction mixture was left stirring overnight. DMF was then removed under reduced pressure and the reaction mixture was partitioned between 20 mL of ethyl acetate and 50 mL of water. The aqueous portion was extracted further with 2×20 mL of ethyl acetate and the combined organic portions were washed with brine, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. Purification on silica gel, eluting with ethyl acetate/hexane gave 410 mg of the desired product: 4-(cis-3-(N-t-butoxycarbonyl-2-aminoacetoxy)cyclopentyl)amino-2-phenyl-5,6,-dimethyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine, MS (ES)(M++1)=480.2. The ester was then treated with 5 mL of 20% trifluoroacetic acid in dichloromethane at room temperature, left over night and then concentrated. Trituration with ethyl acetate gave 300 mg of an off white solid; 4-(cis-3-(2-aminoacetoxy)cyclopentyl)amino-5,6-dimethyl-1-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidine trifluoroacetic acid salt, MS (ES)(M++1)=380.1.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the following compounds can be synthesized by the methods disclosed above:

The pyrrole nitrogen of (7) (Scheme IX) was protected with di-t-butyldicarbonate under basic conditions to yield the corresponding carbamate (22). Radical bromination of (22) proceeded regioselectively to yield bromide (23). In general, compound (23) served as a key electrophilic intermediate for various nucleophilic coupling partners. Displacement of the alkyl bromide with sodium phenolate trihydrate yielded compound (24). Subsequent displacement of the aryl chloride and removal of the t-butyl carbamate protecting group occurred in one step yielding desired compound (25).

Detailed Synthesis of Compounds (22)-(25) in Accordance with Scheme IX

Compound 32 was combined with DMSO (3 mL) and trans-4-aminocyclohexanol (144 mg, 1.25 mmol) and heated to 130° C. for 4 hours. The reaction was cooled to room temperature, and diluted with EtOAc and H2O. The layers were separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc (2×). The combined organic layers were washed with H2O and brine, dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated. Chromatography (silica, 8:1 CHCl3/EtOH) yields 32 mg of a tan oil. Ethyl ether was added and the resulting solid was filtered to yield 5 mg of a white solid (9%). OSIC-148265:

Compounds 1500, 1501, and 1502 can be synthesized using similar preparation steps of Example 20 by treating compound 32 with an appropriately substituted amine.

Yeast β-Galactosidase reporter gene assays for human adenosine A1 and A2a receptor: Yeast strains (S. cerevisiae) were transformed with human adenosine A1 (A1R; CADUS strain CY12660) or human A2a (A2a; CADUS strain CY8362) and the addition of a lacZ(β-Galactosidase) reporter gene to utilize as a functional readout. A complete description of the transformations is listed below (see Yeast Strains). NECA (5′-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine), a potent adenosine receptor agonist with similar affinity for A1 and A2a receptors, was used as a ligand for all assays. Test compounds were examined at 8 concentrations (0.1-10,000 nM) for ability to inhibit NECA-induced β-Galactosidase activity by CY12660 or CY8362.

Preparation of Yeast Stock Cultures: Each of the respective yeast strains, CY12660 and CY8362, were streaked onto an LT agar plate and incubated at 30° C. until colonies were observed. Yeast from these colonies were added to LT liquid (pH 6.8) and grown overnight at 30° C. Each yeast strain was then diluted to an OD600=1.0-2.0 (approximately 1-2×107 cells/ml), as determined spectrophotometrically (Molecular Devices VMAX). For each 6 ml of yeast liquid culture, 4 ml of 40% glycerol (1:1.5 vol:vol) was added (“yeast/glycerol stock”). From this yeast/glycerol stock, ten 1 ml aliquots were prepared and stored at −80° C. until required for assay.

Assays were conducted with a final volume of 100 ul in 96-well microtiter plates, such that a final concentration of 2% DMSO was achieved in all wells. For primary screening, 1-2 concentrations of test compounds were utilized (10 uM, 1 μM). For compound profiling, 8 concentrations were tested (10000, 1000, 500, 100, 50, 10, 1 and 0.1 nM). To each microtiter plate, 10 ul of 20% DMSO was added to “Control” and “Total” wells while 10 ul of Test Compound (in 20% DMSO) was added to “Unknown” wells. Subsequently, 10 ul of NECA (5 uM for A1R, 1 uM for A2aR) were added to “Total” and “Unknown” wells; 10 ul of PBS was added to the “Control” wells. In the final addition, 80 ul of yeast strain, CY8362 or CY12660, were added to all wells. All plates were then agitated briefly (LabLine orbital shaker 2-3 min) and allowed to incubate for 4 hrs. at 30° C. in a dry oven.

β-Galactosidase activity can be quantitated using either calorimetric (e.g., ONPG, CPRG), luminescent (e.g., Galacton-Star) or fluorometric substrates (e.g., FDG, Resorufin) substrates. Currently, fluorescence detection is preferred on the basis of superior signal:noise ratio, relative freedom from interference and low cost. Fluorescein digalactopyranoside (FDG, Molecular Probes or Marker Gene Technologies), a fluorescent β-Galactosidase substrate, was added to all wells at 20 ul/well (final concentration=80 uM). Plates were shaken for 5-6 sec (LabLine orbital shaker) and then incubated at 37° C. for 90 min (95% O2/5% CO2 incubator). At the end of the 90 min incubation period, β-Galactosidase activity was stopped using 20 ul/well of 1M Na2CO3 and all plates shaken for 5-6 sec. Plates were then agitated for 6 sec and relative fluorescence intensity determined using a fluorometer (Tecan Spectrafluor; excitation=485 nm, emission=535 nm).

In this example, the construction of yeast strains expressing a human A1 adenosine receptor functionally integrated into the yeast pheromone system pathway is described.

I. Expression Vector Construction

To construct a yeast expression vector for the human A1 adenosine receptor, the A1 adenosine receptor cDNA was obtained by reverse transcriptase PCR of human hippocampus mRNA using primers designed based on the published sequence of the human A1 adenosine receptor and standard techniques. The PCR product was subcloned into the NcoI and XbaI sites of the yeast expression plasmid pMP15.

The pMP15 plasmid was created from pLPXt as follows: The XbaI site of YEP51 (Broach, J. R. et al. (1983) “Vectors for high-level, inducible expression of cloned genes in yeast” p. 83-117 in M. Inouye (ed.), Experimental Manipulation of Gene Expression. Academic Press, New York) was eliminated by digestion, end-fill and religation to create Yep51NcoDXba. Another XbaI site was created at the BamHI site by digestion with BamHI, end-fill, linker (New England Biolabs, #1081) ligation, XbaI digestion and re-ligation to generate YEP51NcoXt. This plasmid was digested with Esp31 and NcoI and ligated to Leu2 and PGKp fragments generated by PCR. The 2 kb Leu2 PCR product was generated by amplification from YEP51Nco using primers containing Esp31 and BglII sites. The 660 base pair PGKp PCR product was generated by amplification from pPGKαs (Kang, Y.-S. et al. (1990) Mol. Cell. Biol. 10:2582-2590) with PCR primers containing BglII and NcoI sites. The resulting plasmid is called pLPXt. pLPXt was modified by inserting the coding region of the a-factor pre-pro leader into the NcoI site. The prepro leader was inserted so that the NcoI cloning site was maintained at the 3′ end of the leader, but not regenerated at the 5′ end. In this way receptors can be cloned by digestion of the plasmid with NcoI and XbaI. The resulting plasmid is called pMP15.

The pMP15 plasmid into which was inserted the human A1 adenosine receptor cDNA was designated p5095. In this vector, the receptor cDNA is fused to the 3′ end of the yeast a-factor prepro leader. During protein maturation the prepro peptide sequences are cleaved to generate mature full-length receptor. This occurs during processing of the receptor through the yeast secretory pathway. This plasmid is maintained by Leu selection (i.e., growth on medium lacking leucine). The sequence of the cloned coding region was determined and found to be equivalent to that in the published literature (GenBank accession numbers S45235 and S56143).

II. Yeast Strain Construction

To create a yeast strain expressing the human A1 adenosine receptor, yeast strain CY7967 was used as the starting parental strain. The genotype of CY7967 is as follows:

Two plasmids were transformed into strain CY7967 by electroporation: plasmid p5095 (encoding human A2 adenosine receptor; described above) and plasmid p1584, which is a FUS1-β-galactosidase reporter gene plasmid. Plasmid p1584 was derived from plasmid pRS426 (Christianson, T. W. et al. (1992) Gene 110:119-1122). Plasmid pRS426 contains a polylinker site at nucleotides 2004-2016. A fusion between the FUS1 promoter and the β-galactosidase gene was inserted at the restriction sites EagI and XhoI to create plasmid p1584. The p1584 plasmid is maintained by Trp selection (i.e., growth on medium lacking leucine).

The resultant strain carrying p5095 and p1584, referred to as CY12660, expresses the human A1 adenosine receptor. To grow this strain in liquid or on agar plates, minimal media lacking leucine and tryptophan was used. To perform a growth assay on plates (assaying FUS1-HIS3), the plates were at pH 6.8 and contained 0.5-2.5 mM 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and lacked leucine, tryptophan and histidine. As a control for specificity, a comparison with one or more other yeast-based seven transmembrane receptor screens was included in all experiments.

Construction of Yeast Strains Expressing Human A2a Adenosine Receptor

In this example, the construction of yeast strains expressing a human A2a adenosine receptor functionally integrated into the yeast pheromone system pathway is described.

I. Expression Vector Construction

To construct a yeast expression vector for the human A2a adenosine receptor, the human A2a receptor cDNA was obtained from Dr. Phil Murphy (NIH). Upon receipt of this clone, the A2a receptor insert was sequenced and found to be identical to the published sequence (GenBank accession #S46950). The receptor cDNA was excised from the plasmid by PCR with VENT polymerase and cloned into the plasmid pLPBX, which drives receptor expression by a constitutive Phosphoglycerate Kinase (PGK) promoter in yeast. The sequence of the entire insert was once again sequenced and found to be identical with the published sequence. However, by virtue of the cloning strategy employed there were three amino acids appended to the carboxy-terminus of the receptor, GlySerVal.

The genetic markers are as described in Example 1, except for the G-protein variation. For human A2a receptor-expression, yeast strains were utilized in which the endogenous yeast G protein GPA1 had been deleted and replaced by a mammalian Gαs. Three rat Gαs mutants were utilized. These variants contain one or two point mutations which convert them into proteins which couple efficiently to yeast βγ. They are identified as GαsE10K (in which the glutamic acid at position ten is replaced with lysine), GαsD229S (in which the aspartic acid at position 229 is replaced with serine) and GαsE10K+D229S (which contains both point mutations).

Strain CY8342 (carrying one of the three mutant rat Gαs proteins) was transformed with either the parental vector pLPBX (Receptor−) or with pLPBX-A2a (Receptor+). A plasmid with the FUS1 promoter fused to β-galactosidase coding sequences (described in above) was added to assess the magnitude of activation of the pheromone response pathway.

In this example, the development of a functional screening assay in yeast for modulators of the human A1 adenosine receptor is described.

I. Ligands Used in Assay

Adenosine, a natural agonist for this receptor, as well as two other synthetic agonists were utilized for development of this assay. Adenosine, reported to have an EC50 of approximately 75 nM, and (−)-N6-(2-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine (PIA) with a reported affinity of approximately 50 nM were used in a subset of experiments. 5′-N-ethylcarboxamido-adenosine (NECA) was used in all growth assays. To prevent signaling due to the presence of adenosine in the growth media, adenosine deaminase (4 U/ml) was added to all assays.

II. Biological Response in Yeast

The ability of the A1 adenosine receptor to functionally couple in a heterologous yeast system was assessed by introducing the A1 receptor expression vector (p5095, described above) into a series of yeast strains that expressed different G protein subunits. The majority of these transformants expressed Gα subunits of the Gαi or Gαo subtype. Additional Gα proteins were also tested for the possible identification of promiscuous receptor-Gα protein coupling. In various strains, a STE189 or a chimeric STE18-Gγ2 construct was integrated into the genome of the yeast. The yeast strains harbored a defective HIS3 gene and an integrated copy of FUS1-HIS3, thereby allowing for selection in selective media containing 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (tested at 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 mM) and lacking histidine. Transformants were isolated and monolayers were prepared on media containing 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, 4 U/ml adenosine deaminase and lacking histidine. Five microliters of various concentrations of ligand (e.g., NECA at 0, 0.1, 1.0 and 10 mM) was applied. Growth was monitored for 2 days. Ligand-dependent growth responses were tested in this manner in the various yeast strains. The results are summarized in Table 1 below. The symbol (−) indicates that ligand-dependent receptor activation was not detected while (+) denotes ligand-dependent response. The term “LIRMA” indicates ligand independent receptor mediated activation.

TABLE 3

Yeast

Gγ

Strain

strain

Gα subunit

subunit

Variants

Result

CY1316

GPA1

STE18

−

GPA41-Gαi1

+

GPA41-Gαi2

+

GPA41-Gαi3

+

GPA41-Gai2-GαOB

LIRMA

GPA41-GαSE10K

−

GPA41-GαSD2295

−

CY7967

GPA41-Gαi3-

STE18

+++

integrated

CY2120

GPA1

STE18

sst2Δ

+

GPA41-Gαi1

+

GPA41-Gαi2

+

GPA41-Gαi3

+

GPA41-Gai2-GαOB

LIRMA

GPA41-GαSE10K

−

GPA41-GαSD2295

−

CY9438

GPA1

STE18-Gγ2

−

GPA41-Gαi1

+

GPA41-Gαi2

+

GPA41-Gαi3

+

GPA41-Gai2-GαOB

LIRMA

GPA41-GαSE10K

−

GPA41-GαSD2295

−

CY10560

GPA1-integrated

STE18-Gγ2

sst2Δ

++

As indicated in Table 3, the most robust signaling was found to occur in a yeast strain expressing the GPA1(41)-Gαi3 chimera.

III. Fus1-LacZ Assay

To characterize activation of the pheromone response pathway more fully, synthesis of β-galactosidase through fus1LacZ in response to agonist stimulation was measured. To perform the β-galactosidase assay, increasing concentrations of ligand were added to mid-log culture of human A1 adenosine receptor expressed in a yeast strain co-expressing a Ste18-Gγ2 chimera and GPA41-Gαi3. Transformants were isolated and grown overnight in the presence of histidine and 4 U/ml adenosine deaminase. After five hours of incubation with 4 U/ml adenosine deaminase and ligand, induction of β-galactosidase was measured using CPRG as the substrate for β-galactoside. 5×105 cells were used per assay.

The results obtained with NECA stimulation indicated that at a NECA concentration of 10−8 M approximately 2-fold stimulation of β-galactosidase activity was achieved. Moreover, a stimulation index of approximately 10-fold was observed at a NECA concentration of 10−5 M.

The utility of this assay was extended by validation of the activity of antagonists on this strain. Two known adenosine antagonist, XAC and DPCPX, were tested for their ability to compete against NECA (at 5 mM) for activity in the β-galactosidase assay. In these assays, β-galactosidase induction was measured using FDG as the substrate and 1.6×105 cells per assay. The results indicated that both-XAC and DPCPX served as potent antagonists of yeast-expressed A1 adenosine receptor, with IC50 values of 44 nM and 49 nM, respectively.

In order to determine if this inhibitory effect was specific to the A1 subtype, a series of complementary experiments were performed with the yeast-based A2a receptor assay. Results obtained with the A2a yeast-based assay indicated that XAC was a relatively effective A2a receptor antagonist, consistent with published reports. In contrast, DPCPX was relatively inert at this receptor, as expected from published reports.

IV. Radioligand Binding

The A1 adenosine receptor assay was further characterized by measurement of the receptor's radioligand binding parameters. Displacement binding of [3H] CPX by several adenosine receptor reference compounds, XAC, DPCPX, and CGS, was analyzed using membranes prepared from yeast expressing the human A1 adenosine receptor. The results with yeast membranes expressing the human A1 adenosine receptor were compared to those from yeast membranes expressing the human A2a adenosine receptor or the human A3 receptor to examine the specificity of binding. To perform the assay, fifty mg of membranes were incubated with 0.4 nM [3H] CPX and increasing concentrations of adenosine receptor ligands. Incubation was in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 1 mM EDTA, 10 mM MgCl2, 0.25% BSA and 2 U/ml adenosine deaminase in the presence of protease inhibitors for 60 minutes at room temperature. Binding was terminated by addition of ice-cold 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4 plus 10 mM MgCl2, followed by rapid filtration over GF/B filters previously soaked with 0.5% polyethyenimine, using a Packard 96-well harvester. Data were analyzed by nonlinear least square curve fitting procedure using Prism 2.01 software. The IC50 values obtained in this experiment are summarized in Table 4, below:

TABLE 4

IC50 [nM]

Compound

hA1R

hA2aR

hA3R

XAC

6.6

11.7

53.1

DPCPX

8.5

326.4

1307.0

CGS-15943

13.1

15.8

55.5

NECA

215.5

294.9

34.9

R-PIA

67.6

678.1

23.6

IB-MECA

727.7

859.4

3.1

Alloxozine

1072.0

1934.0

8216.0

These data indicate that the reference compounds have affinities consistent with those reported in the literature. The data further indicate that the yeast-based assays are of sufficient sensitivity to discriminate receptor subtype specificity.

In this example, the development of a functional screening assay in yeast for modulators of the human A1 adenosine receptor is described.

I. Ligands Used in Assay

The natural ligand adenosine, as well as other thoroughly characterized and commercially available ligands were used for study of the human A2a receptor functionally expressed in yeast. Three ligands have been used in the establishment of this assay. They include:

Ligand

Reported Ki

Function

Adenosine

500

nM

agonist

5′-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine

10-15

nM

agonist

(NECA) (−)-N6-(2-

phenylisopropyl)-adenosine

100-125

nM

agonist

(PIA)

To prevent signaling due to the presence of adenosine in the growth media, adenosine deaminase (4 U/ml) was added to all assays.

II. Biological Response in Yeast

A2a receptor agonists were tested for the capacity to stimulate the pheromone response pathway in yeast transformed with the A2a receptor expression plasmid and expressing either GαsE10K, GαsD229S or GαsE10K+D229S. The ability of ligand to stimulate the pheromone response pathway in a receptor dependent manner was indicated by an alteration in the yeast phenotype. Receptor activation modified the phenotype from histidine auxotrophy to histidine prototrophy (activation of fus1-HIS3). Three independent transformants were isolated and grown overnight in the presence of histidine. Cells were washed to remove histidine and diluted to 2×106 cells/ml. 5 μl of each transformant was spotted onto nonselective media (including histidine) or selective media (1 mM AT) in the absence or presence of 4 U/ml adenosine deaminase. Plates were grown at 30° C. for 24 hours. In the presence of histidine both Receptor+ (R+) and Receptor− (R−) strains were capable of growth. However, in the absence of histidine only R+ cells grew. Since no ligand had been added to these plates two explanations were possible for this result. One possible interpretation was that the receptor bearing yeast were at a growth advantage due to Ligand Independent Receptor Mediated Activation (LIRMA). Alternatively the yeast could have been synthesizing the ligand adenosine. To distinguish between these two possibilities, an enzyme which degrades the ligand, adenosine deaminase (ADA), was added to the growing yeast and plates. In the presence of adenosine deaminase R+ cells no longer grew in the absence of histidine, indicating that the yeast were indeed synthesizing ligand.

This interpretation was confirmed by an A2a growth assay in liquid. In this experiment R+ yeast (a GαsE10K strain expressing the A2a receptor) were inoculated at three densities (1×106 cell/ml; 3×105 cells/ml; or 1×105 cells/ml) in the presence or absence of adenosine deaminase (4 U/ml). The stringency of the assay was enhanced with increasing concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.2 or 0.4 mM) of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT), a competitive antagonist of imidazoleglycerol-P dehydratase, the protein product of the HIS3 gene. In the presence of adenosine deaminase and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole yeast grew less vigorously. However in the absence of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, adenosine deaminase had little effect. Thus adenosine deaminase itself had no direct effect upon the pheromone response pathway.

An alternative approach to measuring growth and one that can be miniaturized for high throughput screening is an A2a receptor ligand spot assay. A GαsE10K strain expressing the A2a receptor (A2aR+) or lacking the receptor (R−) was grown overnight in the presence of histidine and 4 U/ml adenosine deaminase. Cells were washed to remove histidine and diluted to 5×106 cells/ml. 1×106 cells were spread onto selective plates containing 4 U/ml adenosine deaminase and 0.5 or 1.0 mM 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT) and allowed to dry for 1 hour. 5 μl of the following reagents were applied to the monolayer: 10 mM adenosine, 38.7 mM histidine, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), 10 mM PIA or 10 mM NECA. Cells were grown 24 hours at 30° C. The results showed that cells without receptor could only grow when histidine was added to the media. In contrast, R+ cells only grew in areas where the A2a receptor ligands PIA and NECA had been spotted. Since the plates contained adenosine deaminase, the lack of growth where adenosine had been spotted confirmed that adenosine deaminase was active.

III. fus1 LacZ Assay

To quantitate activation of the yeast mating pathway, synthesis of β-galactosidase through fus1LacZ was measured. Yeast strains expressing GαsE10K, GαsD229S or GαsE10K+D229S were transformed with a plasmid encoding the human A2a receptor (R+) or with a plasmid lacking the receptor (R−). Transformants were isolated and grown overnight in the presence of histidine and 4 U/ml adenosine deaminase. 1×107 cells were diluted to 1×106 cells/ml and exposed to increasing concentrations of NECA for 4 hours, followed by determination of the β-galactosidase activity in the cells. The results demonstrated that essentially no β-galactosidase activity was detected in R− strains, whereas increasing amounts of β-galactosidase activity were detected in R+ strains expressing either GαsE10K, GαsD229S or GαsE10K+D229S as the concentration of NECA increased, indicating a dose dependent increase in units of β-galactosidase detected in response to exposure to increased ligand concentration. This dose dependency was only observed in cells expressing the A2a receptor. Furthermore the most potent Gαs construct for the A2a receptor was GαsE10K. The GαsD229S construct was the second-most potent Gαs construct for the A2a receptor, while the GαsE10K+D229S construct was the least potent of the three Gαs constructs tested, although even the GαsE10K+D229S construct stimulated readily detectable amounts of β-galactosidase activity.

For a further description of the assays identified, see U.S. Application Publication No. US-2002-0015967-A1, published Feb. 7, 2002, entitled “Functional Expression of Adenosine Receptors in Yeast”, now abandoned, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Pharmacological Characterization of the Human Adenosine Receptor SubtypesMaterial and Methods

Yeast culture: Transformed yeast were grown in Leu-Trp[LT] media (pH 5.4) supplemented with 2% glucose. For the preparation of membranes 250 ml of LT medium were inoculated with start titer of 1-2×106 cells/ml from a 30 ml overnight culture and incubated at 30° C. under permanent oxygenation by rotation. After 16 h growth the cells were harvested by centrifugation and membranes were prepared as described below.

The Bio-Rad protein assay kits, based on the Bradford dye-binding procedure, (Bradford, M.: Anal. Biochem. 72:248 (1976)) were used to determine total protein concentration in yeast and mammalian membranes.

In saturation binding membranes (50 μg/well) were incubate with increasing concentrations of [3H] DPCPX (0.05-25 nM) in a final volume of 100 μl of binding buffer at 25° C. for 1 hr in the absence and presence of 10 μM unlabeled XAC in a 96-well microtiter plate.

In competition binding membranes (50 μg/well) were incubate with [3H] DPCPX (1.0 nM) in a final volume of 100 ml of binding buffer at 25° C. for 1 hr in the absence and presence of 10 μM unlabeled XAC or increasing concentrations of competing compounds in a 96-well microtiter plate.

At the end of the incubation, the A1, A2a and A3 receptor subtypes radioligand binding assays was terminated by the addition of ice-cold 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.4) buffer supplemented with 10 mM MgCl2, followed by rapid filtration over glass fiber filters (96-well GF/B UniFilters, Packard) previously presoaked in 0.5% polyethylenimine in a Filtermate 196 cell harvester (Packard). The filter plates were dried coated with 50 μl/well scintillation fluid (MicroScint-20, Packard) and counted in a TopCount (Packard). Assays were performed in triplicate. Non-specific binding was 5.6±0.5%, 10.8±1.4% and 15.1±2.6% of the total binding in a A1R, A2aR and A3R binding assay, respectively.

Adenosine 2b receptor subtype competition radioligand binding: Competition binding on membranes from HEK293 cell stably expressing the human A2b receptor subtype were carried out using A1 receptor antagonist [3H] DPCPX as a radioactive ligand. Membranes was diluted in binding buffer [10 mM Hepes-KOH, pH 7.4; containing 1.0 mM EDTA; 0.1 mM Benzamidine and 2 U/ml adenosine deaminase] at concentrations of 0.3 mg/ml. Membranes (15 μg/well) were incubate with [3H] DPCPX (15 nM) in a final volume of 100 μl of binding buffer at 25° C. for 1 hr in the absence and presence of 10 μM unlabeled XAC or increasing concentrations of competing compounds in a 96-well microtiter plate. At the end of the incubation, the assay was terminated by the addition of ice-cold 10 mM Hepes-KOH (pH 7.4) buffer followed by rapid filtration over glass fiber filters (96-well GF/C UniFilters, Packard) previously presoaked in 0.5% polyethylenimine in a Filtermate 196 cell harvester (Packard). The filter plates were dried coated with 50 μl/well scintillation fluid (MicroScint-20, Packard) and counted in a TopCount (Packard). Assays were performed in triplicate. Non-specific binding was 14.3±2.3% of the total binding.

Specific binding of [3H] DPCPX; [3H] CGS-21680 and [125I] AB-MECA was defined as the difference between the total binding and non-specific binding. Percent inhibition of the compounds was calculated against total binding. Competition data were analyzed by iterative curve fitting to a one site model, and KI values were calculated from IC50 values (Cheng and Prusof, Biochem. Pharmacol. 22, 3099-3109, 1973) using the GraphPad Prizm 2.01 software.

Results

A primary function of certain cell surface receptors is to recognize appropriate ligands. Accordingly, we determined ligand binding affinities to establish the functional integrity of the Adenosine 1 receptor subtype expressed in yeast. Crude membranes prepared from Saccharomyces cerevisiae transformed with human Adenosine 1 receptor subtype construct exhibited specific saturable binding of [3H] DPCPX with a KD of 4.0±0.19 nM. The KD and Bmax value were calculated from the saturation isotherm and Scatchard transformation of the data indicated a single class of binding sites. The densities of adenosine binding sites in the yeast membrane preparations were estimated to 716.8±43.4 fmol/mg membrane protein.

The pharmacological subtype characteristics of the recombinant yeast cells transformed with human A1 receptor subtype were investigated with subtype selective adenosine ligands (XAC, DPCPX; CGS-15943; Compound 600; Compound 1002; NECA, (R)-PIA; IB-MECA and Alloxazine) that competed with [3H] DPCPX in the expected rank order. Displacement curves recorded with these compounds show the typical steepness with all the ligands, and the data for each of the ligands could be modeled by a one-site fit. The apparent dissociation constants estimated for the individual compound from the curves (Table 5) are consistent with value published for the receptor obtained from other sources.

TABLE 5

Ki values for membranes from yeast cells transformed with

human A1 receptor subtype

Ligands

KI (nM)

XAC

5.5

DPCPX

7.1

CGS-1594

10.8

NECA

179.6

(R)-PIA

56.3

IB-MECA

606.5

Alloxazine

894.1

Compound 600

13.9

Compound 1002

9.8

Tables 6 through 12 demonstrate the efficacy and structure activity profiles of deazapurines of the invention. Tables 13 and 14 demonstrate selectivity can be achieved for human adenosine receptor sites by modulation of the functionality about the deazapurine structure. Table 14 also demonstrates the surprising discovery that the compounds set forth therein have subnanomolar activity and higher selectivity for the A2b receptor as compared to the compounds in Table 13.

TABLE 6

Effect of N6-Substituent

A1

Com-

Binding

Yeast

pound

R

Ki (nM)

IC50 (nM)

600

13.9

97.2

601

1423

>10.000

602

483.5

>10.000

603

196.6

4442.0

604

>10.000

>10000

605

>10000

>10000

606

297.9

>10000

607

309.7

>10000

608

29.1

609

193.9

610

411.5

611

785.6

>10000

612

64.8

613

6726.0

614

32.1

615

816.9

2577.0

616

34.3

TABLE 7

Effect of C2-Substituent

A1

Binding

Yeast

Compound

R

Ki (nM)

IC50 (nM)

700

604.5

>10000

701

157.7

763.1

702

198.5

2782.5

703

443.6

>10000

704

61.1

297.0

705

30.1

194.7

706

19.9

707

62.8

708

2145

709

48.7

TABLE 8

Effect of Pyrrole Ring Substituent

A1

Yeast

Binding

IC50

Compound

R

R′

R″

R′″

Ki (nM)

(nM)

800

Me

Me

Me

3311

>10000

801

H

Me

H

22.3

148.3

802

H

H

Me

8.9

803

Me

Me

2210

>10000

804

Me

Me

863.1

805

Me

Me

4512

806

Me

Me

8451

807

Me

Me

35.3

TABLE 9

A1

Yeast

Binding

1C50

Compound

R

Ki(nM)

(nM)

900

863.1

901

4512

902

8451

903

35.3

TABLE 10

Effect of N6-Substituent

A1

Com-

Binding

Yeast

pound

R

Ki (nM)

IC50 (nM)

1000

1789

>10000

1001

54.4

1865

1002

9.8

82.8

1003

26.7

195.7

1004

32.8

545.8

1005

147.5

3972

1006

151.7

2918

1007

692.5

>10000

1008

93.1

3217

1009

475.3

>10000

1010

674.9

9376.0

1011

121.9

2067.5

1012

233.9

3462

1013

270.1

3009.5

1014

384.9

2005

1015

179.3

3712

1016

176.1

5054

TABLE 11

Effect of N6-Substituent

A1

Com-

Binding

Yeast

pound

R

Ki (nM)

IC50 (nM)

1100

9.8

115.4

1101

53.9

551.0

1102

10.3

101.3

1103

71.1

3217

1104

6.5

58.7

1105

105.4

472.1

1106

27.8

162.4

1107

126.5

1297.0

1108

2.3

1109

9.0

1110

17.3

1111

2.5

1112

213

TABLE 12

“Retro-Amide” Analogues

A1

Com-

Binding

Yeast

pound

R

Ki (nM)

IC50 (nM)

1200

16.5

189.4

1201

7.4

45.7

1202

95.8

3345.0

1203

529.1

4040.0

1204

1060.0

>10000

1205

1272

>10000

1206

50.8

4028

1207

48.5

701.5

TABLE 13

Profile of Selective Adenosine Antagonists

Binding Ki (nM)

Compound

R

A1

A2a

A2b

A3

1300

9.8-25.1

18.0-48.6

80.3

513.0

1301

27.8

50.7

84.6

429.8

1302

20.2

75.6

20.1

4.3

1303

17.4

111.3

120.6

44.6

1304

13.9-30.9

933.7

138.0

21.5

13051

46.6

730.9

30%

9.9

13062

16.4

766.3

168.3

71.7

1307

29.1

190.6

1143.0

3.1

1308

180

230

670

1.0

1309

40

109

109

0.3

1310

255

76%

275

≦2.6

1311

531

981

736

5.3

1312

443

2965

375

≦6.2

1313

30%

65%

515

24

1314

87

204

30

0.02

1315

75.000

720.000

3.400

507

1316

333

710.000

710.000

97

1317

710.000

710.000

720.000

369

13184

3.7 ± 0.5

630 ± 56.4

2307 ± 926

630 ± 76

13194,5

1.8

206

802

270

13204,6

8.0

531

530

419

13214,7

8.0

131

1031

54%8

12-thienyl-2-yl:

2C5—H:

3water soluble:

4R5 and R6 are hydrogen:

5R3 is 3-fluorophenyl:

6R3 is 3-chlorophenyl:

7R3 is 4-pyridyl:

8% activity @ 10 μM

TABLE 14

Profile of Selective A2b Antagonists

Binding Data Ki (nM)

Compound

XR1

R2

A1

A2a

A2B

A3

1400

—O—Ph

Me

41.7

21

10.3

14.6

1401

—O—Ph(p)F

Me

33

58

8.8

18

1402

—O—Ph(p)Cl

Me

825

591

22

60

1403

—N-pyridin-

Me

60

41

18

48

2-one

1404

—NH—Ph

Me

49

31

4.6

57

TABLE 15

Adenosine A1 Receptor Selective Compounds

Relative

Relative

Relative

Compound

Structure

Ki-A1

Ki-A2a

Ki-A2b

Ki-A3

706

*

1318

*

1319

*

1320

*

1500

*

1321

*

1501

*

1502

*

1503

*

1504

*

*at least 10 times more selective than other three subtypes,

This invention provides a compound having the structure:

This invention also provides a compound having the structure:

This invention further provides a compound having the structure:

This invention also provides a compound having the structure:

This invention further provides a compound having the structure:

This invention also provides a compound having the structure:

This invention also provides a compound having the structure:

This invention further provides a compound having the structure:

This invention also provides a compound having the structure:

This invention further provides a compound having the structure:

This invention further provides a compound having the structure:

This invention also provides a compound having the structure:

This invention further provides a compound having the structure:

This invention also provides a compound having the structure:

This invention further provides a compound having the structure:

In a further embodiment the invention provides a method for treating a disease associated with A1 adenosine receptor in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of compounds 1601, 1602, 1605, 1606, 1611, 1614, 1619, 1621, 1623, 1624, 1625, 1626, 1627, 1628, 1629, or 1630.

In a further embodiment the invention provides the above method, wherein the subject is a mammal.

In a further embodiment the invention provides the above method, wherein the mammal is a human.

In a further embodiment the invention provides, wherein said prodrug is metabolized in vivo by esterase catalyzed hydrolysis.

In a further embodiment the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising the above prodrug and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In a further embodiment the invention provides a method for inhibiting the activity of an A1 adenosine receptor in a cell, which comprises contacting the cell with compounds 1601, 1602, 1605, 1606, 1611, 1614, 1619, 1621, 1623, 1624, 1625, 1626, 1627, 1628, 1629, or 1630.

In a further embodiment the invention provides the above method for inhibiting the activity of an A1 adenosine receptor in a cell, wherein the compound is an antagonist of the A1 adenosine receptor.

In a further embodiment the invention provides the above method for inhibiting the activity of an A1 adenosine receptor in a cell, wherein the cell is human cell.

In a further embodiment the invention provides the above method for inhibiting the activity of an A1 adenosine receptor in a human cell, wherein the compound is an antagonist of A1 adenosine receptors.

In a further embodiment the invention provides a method for treating a disease associated with A1 adenosine receptor in a subject, wherein said disease is asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, allergic rhinitis, or an upper respiratory disorder.

In a further embodiment the invention provides a method for treating a disease associated with A1 adenosine receptor in a subject, wherein said disease is asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, allergic rhinitis, or an upper respiratory disorder and wherein the subject is a human.

In a further embodiment the invention provides a method for treating the above disease, wherein said compound is an antagonist of A1 adenosine receptors.

In a further embodiment the invention provides the above pharmaceutically acceptable salt, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound 1611, 1619, 1625, 1628, or 1629 contains a cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, calcium and ammonium.

In yet a further embodiment the invention provides a method for treating a disease associated with A1 adenosine receptor in a subject, wherein the A1 adenosine receptor is associated with congestive heart failure.

Aryl chloride 9 (200 mg, 0.44 mmol), DMSO (10 ml) and L-prolinamide (440 mg, 4.4 mmol) were combined and heated to 85° C. under argon. After 14 hours the mixture is cooled to room temperature and partitioned between water and ethyl acetate. The layers were separated and the aqueous layer washed with EtOAc (3×). The combined organic layers were thoroughly washed with water (3×), brine, dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated to give 10 as a yellow film which was purified by flash chromatography (2.5% MeOH in CH2Cl2) 185 mg (97%). MS (ES): 435.8 (M++1).

The compounds specific to the A1 receptor listed in Table 16 had lower cLogP values, between about 1.5 to about 3.4, as compared to reference compounds 1318 or 1319 with a cLogP value about 3.8. It was not predicted that the more polar A1 receptor compounds listed in Table 16 having lower cLogP values than the reference compounds 1318 or 1319 would still retain the potency and A1 receptor binding selectivity as compared to those reference compounds.

TABLE 16

Compound

cLogP

1601

4.1

1602

3.0

1605

2.88

1606

2.1

1611

2.9

1614

1.5

1619

2.7

1621

3.37

1623

2.4

1624

2.8

1625

3.1

1626

2.8

1627

3.4

1628

2.4

1629

2.2

1630

2.4

Incorporation by Reference

All patents, published patent applications and other references disclosed herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Equivalents

Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain, using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to specific embodiments of the invention described specifically herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed in the scope of the following claims.